Philippine utility Manila Water has put in place a broad set of operational and infrastructure measures to secure continuous supply for its 7.9 million customers in Metro Manila's East Zone, as the country's weather agency warns of a developing El Niño that could bring severe dry spells and drought conditions across the country.
Central to Manila Water's strategy is reducing reliance on Angat Dam, which historically sees significant drawdown during dry periods. The utility has integrated two alternative raw water sources: the Upper Wawa Dam and the Tayabasan Weir, together capable of delivering up to 710 million litres per day (MLD). Additional supply comes from the Calawis Water Supply System Phase 1 (80 MLD), the Cardona Water Treatment Plant (110 MLD), and the East Bay Phase 1 facility (50 MLD), the latter two drawing raw water from Laguna Lake.
A standout element of the preparedness programme is the deployment of backwash water recovery systems across the Balara, East La Mesa, and Cardona treatment plants. The technology recaptures water generated during filtration backwash cycles, effectively stretching production capacity without any compromise to treated water quality — a notable efficiency gain under drought-stressed conditions.
The utility also points to its non-revenue water performance as a key resilience indicator. As of March 2026, system NRW stood at 13.92%, which Manila Water describes as among the lowest in Asia, achieved through smart leak detection, rapid field response, and ongoing maintenance across a pipeline network now extending to 5,686.75 kilometres.
Operational continuity measures include year-round maintenance of pumping stations and standby generators at critical facilities, a precaution made more relevant by recent power supply volatility affecting the Luzon grid.
