Secretary Gina Lopez of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Manila Water Chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala led the ceremonial energization of the Marikina North Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in Balubad Resettlement, Barangay Nangka, Marikina City last November 24.

The inauguration was also attended by high-ranking national and local government officials, company executives and partners including Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) General Manager Neric Acosta, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Senior Undersecretary Rafael Yabut, Marikina City Mayor Marcy Teodoro, San Mateo Vice Mayor Rafael Diaz, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) OIC-Administrator Nathaniel Santos, MWSS Regulatory Office Chief Regulator Joel Yu and Manila Water President and CEO Gerardo Ablaza, Jr.

Hailed as the country’s largest STP to date, Marikina North STP is designed to treat 100 million liters per day (MLD) of used water conveyed through a system of 22-kilometer sewer network coming from over 500,000 residents from nine barangays in Marikina City and five barangays in San Mateo, Rizal. Treated effluent from the STP is categorized as “Class C” which makes it safe for recreational water activities and marine life. This will be discharged directly to the adjacent Marikina River.

“I want to applaud Manila Water for your vision to clean Marikina River. You have opened up the door for great economic opportunity and this will result in a shift of consciousness for your people to show reverence for nature,” DENR Secretary Lopez imparted.

“With the commissioning of the Marikina North STP and the completion of its network, Manila Water and the City of Marikina have further cemented their partnership not only for economic growth but most importantly for environmental protection. We cannot thank you enough for the efficient services that Manila Water has provided to our city and our people. Thank you for fulfilling our commitment to make Marikina truly a livable city,” shared Mayor Teodoro.

The STP, which is built on a two-hectare land identified for this specific use with the help of the local government, is constructed 26.5 meters above ground level in anticipation of the frequent flooding in the area. Its construction is currently marked by 6.5 million safe man-hours without lost time for accidents, the best in a Manila Water project to date.

“Built with world-class design and technology, this project is a major milestone in our efforts to improve health and sanitation in the East Zone, as well as aid in the preservation of our rivers by ensuring domestic used water, from the barangays it will serve, is no longer a pollutant when it is returned to our waterways,” said Carpio.

The STP is equipped with sequencing batch reactor (SBR) technology, a cost-efficient and space-saving innovation, as well as with high-efficiency turbo blowers engineered to lessen the facility’s carbon footprint. The sewer network was constructed through microtunneling, where pipes are jacked across the ground from one entry pit, minimizing impact on the traffic and inconvenience to the residents.