Maynilad to build two wastewater treatment plants in the Philippines

Maynilad Water Services will invest about PHP616m ($14.39m) to construct two wastewater treatment plants and their corresponding conveyance systems in the Philippines.

The water utility will build a sewage treatment facility in Brgy Sto Domingo in Quezon City, along with a septage treatment plant south of Manila.

Maynilad president and CEO Ricky Vargas said the proper treatment and disposal of wastewater is important to protect the health and sanitation conditions of communities and the environment.

"We are committed to accelerating our wastewater projects to fulfil our commitment to the government, our customers and the environment," said Vargas.

Upon completion, the sewage treatment plant will have a treatment capacity of 15,500 cubic meters a day (CMD), while the septage treatment plant will have a treatment capacity of 250CMD. The sewage treatment facility will serve some 25,300 households and establishments in the city of Quezon, while the septage treatment plant will serve about 75,000 households annually in Pasay, Paranaque, Las Pinas, Muntinlupa and Cavite.

The facilities will also help clear the San Juan River Basin, which empties in to major water systems such as the Pasig River and Manila Bay. Maynilad is led by a joint venture between Metro Pacific Investments Corp and DMCI Holdings.

The company currently maintains and operates three wastewater treatment plants and more than 480km of sewer lines, and is expected to commission additional wastewater facilities in the next few months.

Maynilad plans to spend PHP8.4bn ($197m) on sewerage and sanitation services and system upgrades in 2012.

About PHP2.7bn ($63.32m) will be spent on sewerage and sanitation projects, PHP1.9bn ($44.56m) for the upgrade of key facilities, about PHP1.6bn ($37.52m) to lay new pipelines in unserved areas, and nearly PHP1.8bn ($42.21m) for the company’s non-revenue water reduction programme, reports business.inquirer.net.

The company will also use the funds to develop of water sources, building and warehouse facilities and natural calamity mitigation projects.