West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) has begun partial operation of its raw water reservoir at the La Mesa Water Treatment Plant (WTP) in Quezon City, enabling the storage of up to 67 million liters of raw water to help stabilize supply during the dry season.
The initial utilization of one converted lagoon within the La Mesa WTP supports Maynilad’s efforts to improve operational flexibility, particularly during periods when inflows from the Angat–Ipo Dam system are reduced due to lower rainfall or allocation adjustments.
The project—targeted for full completion by June 2026—involves the repurposing of former sludge lagoons within the La Mesa compound into a six-meter-deep impounding reservoir capable of storing up to 200 million liters of raw water.
Previously used for sludge handling in the treatment process, the lagoons have been converted into a dedicated raw water storage facility, marking a shift from internal process use to system-level supply support.
Once fully operational, the reservoir will provide La Mesa Water Treatment Plant 1 with an additional raw water buffer, enabling more stable plant operations and helping sustain water service during periods of reduced inflow.
The facility may also serve as a settling basin during periods of elevated turbidity, allowing suspended particles in raw water to settle naturally before entering the treatment process. This helps support more efficient treatment operations during challenging raw water conditions.
“This facility enhances our ability to manage raw water variability and maintain stable treatment operations, particularly during periods of lower inflow or higher turbidity,” said Maynilad Chief Operating Officer Christopher Jaime T. Lichauco.
Once completed, the facility will be Maynilad’s first dedicated raw water storage reservoir, complementing its 38 existing reservoirs for treated water across the West Zone.
Maynilad continues to invest in strategic infrastructure projects that strengthen system resilience and ensure reliable water service for the communities it serves. Maynilad operates the largest water concession by population served within a single concession area in the Philippines. It is a concessionaire of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) for the West Zone of the Greater Manila Area, which is composed of the cities of Manila (certain portions), Quezon City (certain portions), Makati (west of South Super Highway), Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon all in Metro Manila; the cities of Cavite, Bacoor and Imus, and the municipalities of Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario, all in Cavite Province.
PHOTO CAPTION: Aerial view of Maynilad’s raw water reservoir project at the La Mesa Water Treatment Plant in Quezon City, where one converted lagoon is now partially operational to help support water supply during the dry season.
