Manila Water allots P115 billion for full sewer, sanitation coverage

MANILA, Philippines — Ayala-led Manila Water Co. Inc. is spending P115 billion for a full sewer and sanitation coverage by 2037.

The east zone concessionaire needs to lay about 500 kilometers more of pipes in public and private roads to complete its sewerage program in the next 18 years.

This will capture wastewater from households and establishments to convey to sewage treatment plants to ensure that wastewater released to Manila Bay complies pollution control standards.

“Since 1997 when we took over the east zone, we have spent P38.5 billion on our wastewater programs from collections of only P36.9 billion. So, we have excess investments of P1.6 billion and we expect this trend to continue,” Manila Water chief operating officer Abelardo Basilio said.

Part of the expenditure will fund the construction of system projects covering 11 sub-catchment areas which will be implemented in two or three phases.

Seven projects are set to commence until 2022 translating to an investment of P38.4 billion, while the rest will begin construction from 2023 onwards.

The sewage treatment plants (STPs) to be built for these system projects are designed to cumulatively collect and treat up to almost 950 million liters per day of wastewater from 7.5 million population in the east zone.

The investment also covers the rehabilitation of existing sewer lines and the upgrade of currently operating STPs to comply with the standards for biological nutrient removal in the wastewater treatment process.

For ongoing wastewater infrastructure projects, nearing its completion is the Ilugin STP to serve the sub-catchment area of north and south Pasig, covering communities in and around Pasig City.

The 100-MLD STP and its sewerage system will serve a population of nearly 700,000.  It is expected to be operational by 2020.

“For most cases, Manila Water also acquires the land where the STPs are put up. Among the Metro Manila governments, Marikina is way ahead with an 80 percent coverage all spent for by Manila Water, and Mayor Marcy Teodoro wants 100 percent sewerage in the next two years. We will do that and that will make Marikina our model,” Basilio said.

To date, Manila Water operates 38 STPs and two septage treatment plants with a total capacity of 310 MLD.