Manila Water is actively drawing from the Upper Wawa Dam and several other critical infrastructure assets in Rizal province to fortify its supply network in anticipation of a looming El Niño dry spell.
The private concessionaire announced that the Upper Wawa Dam, alongside the adjacent Tayabasan Weir—a low-level river structure functioning as a small-scale dam—possesses a combined capacity to deliver up to 710 million liters per day (MLD). This substantial volume is expected to significantly ease the company’s heavy reliance on Angat Dam, which historically bears the brunt of the region’s water demands.
To further diversify its distribution network for the East Zone, Manila Water is leveraging the first phase of the Calawis Water Supply System in Antipolo, capable of yielding 80 MLD. Additionally, the Cardona Water Treatment Plant is being utilized to pump up to 110 MLD by treating raw water sourced directly from Laguna Lake.
In tandem with expanding its alternative sources, the utility firm has integrated backwash water recovery systems across its filtration hubs in Balara, East La Mesa, and Cardona.
This recycling mechanism captures and treats the water used during filter-cleaning cycles, effectively maximizing production output without sacrificing safety or quality standards.