Manila Water Company’s use of at least 13 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green energy in 2021 has reduced its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by over 9,000 tons. According to Jocot de Dios, President and CEO of Manila Water, the utilization of 13.8 kWh of renewable energy enabled the water concessionaire to attain a decrease of 9,100 tons in its carbon emissions.

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) celebrates Manila Water’s milestone in its landmark Novaliches-Balara Aqueduct 4 (NBAQ4) project as the tunnel-boring machine (TBM) being utilized for the project has already broken through at the La Mesa Reservoir, more than seven kilometers away from its entry shaft at Balara in Quezon City. The Php5.5B NBAQ4 project, one of the largest MWSS-led water supply infrastructure projects undertaken by Manila Water, entails the construction of a fourth aqueduct from the La Mesa Reservoir to the Balara Treatment Plants (BTP) 1 and 2 to improve the reliability and security of the raw water transmission system.

The Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) that was used to construct the Novaliches-Balara Aqueduct 4 (NBAQ4) has completed its work as it emerges at the La Mesa Reservoir this August. Launched at the Balara Treatment Plant 2 on January 28, 2020, the TBM “Dalisay” laid a 7.3-kilometer long, 3.1-meter diameter pipe underneath Commonwealth Avenue without inconvenience to traffic. This project is the first to use this technology in Metro Manila. The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) used a similar machine for constructing Tunnel 4 of the Angat Water Tunnel Improvement Project (AWTIP) in Norzagaray, Bulacan. In a ceremony held to celebrate this milestone, guests onsite and those that attended through Zoom witnessed the exposure of Dalisay’s cutter head from the soft concrete at the exit shaft at the La Mesa Reservoir (photo above).

While observing strict protocols related to COVID-19, Manila Water recently organized a ceremonial signing of the usufruct agreement that will set the ball rolling for the construction of the Hinulugang Taktak Sewage Treatment Plant in Antipolo City. Participating in the signing ceremony are DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, Antipolo City Mayor Andrea B. Ynares, as well as Manila Water President and CEO Jose Rene D. Almendras, and Chief Operating Officer Abelardo P. Basilio.

In its commitment to increase sewer coverage in Mandaluyong, San Juan, and Quezon City as part of its service obligation, Manila Water recently held a ceremonial contract signing with its partners for the construction of the Aglipay Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). The company partnered with two acknowledged experts in their respective fields, Suez Asia’s Water Asia Business and Megawide Construction Corporation, for process design and construction, respectively.