Maynilad Funnelled ₱200 Million to Introduce Modular Treatment Plants

Maynilad Water Services Inc. is running trials on new technology that could provide an alternative supply of potable water. The water utility firm earlier announced that it spent ₱200 million to be the first to introduce modular water treatment plants (ModTP) in the country. These facilities are geared to produce “New Water” or purified used water. Maynilad sourced the ModTPs from Israel.

“Water is a scarce resource. Given the growing population’s increasing demand for water plus the strain on existing sources due to climate change, we should consider using previously untapped sources—including used water—to augment supply,” elaborated Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito Fernandez. “There are now reliable and effective treatment technologies that make it a viable option.”

Singapore, South Africa, Namibia, and the United States all use similar technology. Maynilad sourced water from one of its sewage treatment plants (STPs) to be processed into new water. After conducting the test, its new water passed Parañaque City’s water potability test. Treatment of used water consists of media filtration, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, and chlorine disinfection.

Maynilad aims to produce 10 million liters per day (MLD), for its first implementation of the technology. The company plans to distribute its new water to Barangay San Dionisio and Barangay San Isidro in Parañaque, which is projected to benefit 38,700 customers. “By including used water to its alternative raw water source options, Maynilad will have enhanced capability to produce more water whenever existing supplies run short,” Fernandez explained.

Maynilad Quality, Sustainability, and Resiliency head Roel Espiritu affirmed that used water from STPs proves to be a more reliable water source compared to raw river water. This is mainly due to the fact that it is climate independent. “If we use the river directly as a source, trash and other pollutants thrown into it by surrounding communities could drastically change the river water’s quality. This could affect the volume output of a ModTP, which has to adjust its treatment parameters with sudden shifts in the raw water quality,” said Espiritu.

Maynilad is engaging with the Department of Health, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, and Parañaque City’s local government unit to guarantee that its new water is fit for consumption. “The company is also conducting a series of social acceptability tests of drinkable reused water among consumers,” it added.

Sources: ABS CBN, GMA News