Balara Water Treatment Plant. Manila Water’s backwash recovery program, coupled with strategic investments in additional water sources, helps strengthen the resilience of its water supply system and supports the delivery of safe, reliable, and sustainable 24/7 water service to its 7.9 million customers. —Photo from Manila Water
MANILA, Philippines — Despite the rainy season, the replenishment of Angat Dam remains a continuing challenge as recent rains have yet to fully offset the effects of El Niño, as evidenced by the still-below-critical level of Angat Dam. To help bolster water availability and reduce pressure on existing sources, Manila Water has been fortifying its backwash recovery program, which can generate up to 46 million liters per day (MLD) of additional water from its treatment facilities.
The recovered volume is enough to potentially serve more than 200,000 customers daily, providing a crucial supply buffer during periods of heightened demand and constrained water resources.
At the East La Mesa and Balara Treatment Plants, Manila Water’s backwash recovery facilities can recover up to 40 MLD of water that would otherwise be lost during routine filter cleaning operations. The process allows water from the backwashing cycle to be recovered, clarified, and reintroduced into the treatment process as an additional source of raw water.
