EAST ZONE water concessionaire Manila Water Co., Inc. has broken ground for its P4.16-billion Aglipay sewage treatment plant in Mandaluyong City that can treat 60 million liters per day.
In a statement on Thursday, Manila Water said the plant is the company’s 42nd sewage treatment facility in its franchise area and will treat wastewater coming from 2,115 hectares of catchment area covering Mandaluyong, San Juan, and Quezon City.
The facility’s capacity can be increased up to 120 million liters of wastewater daily once the construction of a complementing network of 53 kilometers of sewer lines is finished, the company said.
The construction of the Aglipay sewage treatment plant is projected to be done by 2024, and the sewer network by 2025.
The ground-breaking ceremony at the site marked the start of Manila Water’s Mandaluyong West Sewerage System, which is designed to serve a population of up to 652,000.
“Aglipay Sewage Treatment Plant is the first wastewater treatment facility of Manila Water that will utilize the Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor process with Biological Nutrient Removal technology, which will promote treatment efficiency and improve effluent quality,” the water provider said.
Manila Water Operations Chief Operating Officer Abelardo P. Basilio said the project is part of the company’s wastewater masterplan to provide the entire east zone with 100% sewer and sanitation coverage by 2037.
“This masterplan will help ensure the sustained care for our waterways through short-term interventions and long-term technical solutions,” he said.
Manila Water President and Chief Executive Officer Jose Rene Gregory D. Almendras has called for the collaboration among stakeholders for the smooth implementation of the project in order to avoid inconvenience to the public during construction.
“Once completed, Mandaluyong City can boast of a truly world-class sewage treatment facility that will redound to urban growth and greatly help in environmental protection,” he said.
Manila Water also announced that it would implement technical interventions along Buayang Bato and Buhangin Creeks in Mandaluyong City as part of an initiative to clean Metro Manila’s three-river system and their tributaries.
“These interventions include the application of Biomix, a Manila Water Laboratory Services patented cultured bacteria, to Buayang Bato Creek to reduce foul odor and coliform count. Likewise, for Buhangin Creek, artificial turbulence will be applied to help promote movement of water even during dry season,” the company said.
Manila Water provides water and wastewater services in the eastern part of Metro Manila, which includes Marikina, Pasig, Taguig, Makati, San Juan, Mandaluyong, and portions of Quezon City and Manila, and Rizal province. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave