MWSS pursues new water sources

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) will undertake new projects that can produce three million liters of water daily (MLD) in the next five years.

During the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) CEO Forum held recently, MWSS administrator Reynaldo Velasco said the projects comprise the 600 MLD Kaliwa Dam, the 500 MLD Montalban Dam and the 1,950 MLD “ABC” projects as alternative sources of water.

With the “ABC projects,” MWSS hopes to take advantage of the untapped and water wastage from Angat, revive the Bayabas Dam project, and push for the Candaba multi-purpose impounding dam project.

The projects have a potential of producing 1.95 MLD, which will largely complement the existing capacity of the Angat Dam, the main source of Metro Manila’s water supply.

Velasco added that unlike other major water projects that take so many years to construct, the three projects could be started and completed in just three to four years.

For his part, Maynilad chief operating officer Randy Estrellado lauded the water agency’s openness to venture into new water sources to meet the increasing demands of growth.

Meanwhile, Manila Water COO Ding Carpio expressed support for the new water projects being pushed by MWSS.

According to Velasco, the Angat Dam underwent rehabilitation to make it sturdier in case a 7.2-magnitude earthquake occurs.

Among the “legacy” water projects being pursued by MWSS is the construction of the Kaliwa Dam in General Nakar, Quezon and Infanta, Quezon.

 The P12.2-billion Kaliwa Dam,  which is seen to have a capacity of 600 MLD, is expected to be completed in 2023.

Velasco said Wawa Dam proponent Oscar Violago and his new partner expressed interest to construct an 82-meter dam in Montalban primarily to help mitigate flooding in the province of Rizal and to produce 500 MLD through a public-private partnership scheme.

Another project that is being considered is the Candaba multi-purpose impounding dam, which can  serve as a flood control, irrigation and even eco-tourism project for Pampanga.