Upper Wawa Dam to boost Metro Manila’s water supply

The Upper Wawa Dam operator has assured it will provide ample water supply to Greater Metro Manila, especially during the dry season. In a statement on Friday, March 1, Prime Infrastructure-led WawaJVCO Inc. said the Upper Wawa Dam flagship project is only a few steps away from completion, and will produce at least 710 million liters per day (MLD) in areas near the metropolis.

The concessionaires of Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) would benefit greatly from the dam project, as the MWSS services Metro Manila, Rizal, and Cavite through Maynilad Water Services, Inc. and Manila Water Co.

Wawajvco currently has a 30year agreement to provide Manila Water with 518 MLD out of the 710 MLD Upper Wawa supply.

Described as the largest water supply infrastructure to be built in the half-century, the project is currently in its second phase of the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project, as the construction of its 85-meter roller compacted concrete (RCC) dam is around 93 percent complete, and ahead of time.

“The Upper Wawa Dam’s design was based on gold standards for such facilities and built through state-of-the-art technology that would ensure the dam stays efficient and reliable in the long term,” Wawajvco. stated.

Once operational, the Upper Wawa Dam will lessen consumers’ dependence on the Angat-iba System, which is utilized by the heavily populated areas in the Metropolitan.

“With its substantial capacity and innovative design, the dam holds immense potential to enhance water security and resilience, which will be a massive step in avoiding a water crisis in Metro Manila and nearby provinces,” Wawajvco. shared.

Meanwhile, the company assured that the dam will minimize the impact of the El Niño on residential, commercial, and industrial areas.

“The Upper Wawa Dam will help address water security and ensure sustainable water supply to benefit over 700,000 households or about 3.5 million Filipinos within the service area of MWSS,” they added.

Commercial operations are expected to begin by 2025.