Upper Wawa Dam to start supplying water by 2025
The Upper Wawa Dam, the second phase of the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project in Rizal, is making significant construction progress and is on track to begin commercial operations by end 2025. The project is being developed by Prime Infra-led WawaJVCo Inc. PHOTO FROM PRIME INFRA
The Upper Wawa Dam, the second phase of the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project, is making significant construction progress and is on track to begin commercial operations by end 2025.
WawaJVCo Inc., led by Prime Infra, said in a statement that overall progress exceeded 70 percent as of December 2023.
The Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project is the largest privately-led water supply infrastructure in the country’s history.
The dam, once in operation, will have a yearlong water supply capacity of over 700 million liters per day (MLD) benefiting residents of greater Metro Manila, including the province of Rizal.
Aside from providing a reliable water supply source, Upper Wawa Dam will also help mitigate the perennial problem of flooding in downstream areas of Marikina River.
“The exceptional construction pace at Upper Wawa Dam showcases Prime Infra’s commitment to delivering on our promises in developing water supply infrastructure at this scale,” said Prime Infra president and CEO Guillaume Lucci.
“We are pleased that the project continues to be materially ahead of schedule. We take great pride in ensuring that we sustain this pace and do so safely by 2025,” Lucci said.
He said the project “aims to secure sufficient capacity to meet the
Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and its concessionaires’ water needs.”
“Phase 1 became operational in record time since October 2022,” Lucci said.
The project in Rizal is one of the national government’s infrastructure flagship projects that will address water security, specifically in MWSS service area.
It is the largest water supply dam to be constructed in over 50 years after Angat Dam. It will increase Manila Water Company’s (MWC) capacity by over 30% of its current water supply allocation from Angat Dam of approximately 1,600 MLD.
Phase 2, or the Upper Wawa Dam, can deliver over 700 MLD of water by end 2025. The project’s first phase, or the Tayabasan Weir, has been delivering an initial 80 MLD since it began operations.
Together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), WawaJVCo is also implementing a watershed management plan that includes reforestation activities around the site of the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project covering 1,800 hectares.
“In developing this project, we aim to build a legacy by prioritizing environmental sustainability and fostering long-term partnerships with our host communities,” said Prime Infra Market Sector Lead for Water Melvin John Tan, also the president of WawaJVCo.
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