Manila Water Invests in North Sewage Plant for Enhanced Capacity and Sustainability

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Enrique K. Razon Jr., the billionaire, is leading Manila Water in a significant investment to upgrade its North Sewage Plant and terminal pumping station in Marikina City, with the goal of enhancing service reliability and adhering to strict environmental regulations set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The extensive upgrades to the North Sewage Plant include additional sewage submersible pumps, DN 400 and 500 pipes, and a state-of-the-art full-bore electromagnetic flowmeter, all aimed at significantly increasing capacity and redundancy to ensure uninterrupted wastewater treatment during peak flow periods.

Along with the mechanical improvements, Manila Water is also improving the North Sewage Plant’s electrical infrastructure by adding a new auxiliary supply and control transformer, a motor isolator and disconnect switch, and soft starters that are integrated with the current Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. These changes are meant to make power more reliable and improve operational efficiency to meet the needs of today and tomorrow in a changing cityscape.

Slated for completion by October 2024, the project underscores Manila Water’s commitment to sustainable wastewater management, as evidenced by its recent achievement of a perfect compliance score in wastewater effluent quality, with all 26 facilities recording a 100% compliance rate in June, surpassing the 95% target set by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Regulatory Office.

Furthermore, these facilities generate “Class C” effluent, which is free of bio-nutrients and safe for various recycling uses such as toilet flushing, cleaning, and irrigation, while also being suitable for discharge into natural water bodies and marine ecosystems, underscoring the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

Through these strategic upgrades, Manila Water is not only investing in its infrastructure but also contributing to the long-term sustainability and resilience of wastewater management in Marikina City, ensuring that the community is well-equipped to meet future challenges.