West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) is investing over ₱686 million to transform the sludge lagoons at the La Mesa Compound into a new impounding reservoir for raw water sourced from the Angat-Ipo Dam system. This initiative aims to significantly enhance Maynilad’s water storage capacity.
The project involves converting four existing sludge lagoons, which previously served as disposal sites for sludge generated during the water treatment process, into a 6-meter-deep reservoir capable of storing approximately 200 million liters (ML) of raw water. Located in Quezon City, this new reservoir will bolster the supply capacity of Maynilad’s La Mesa Treatment Plant 1 by providing an additional 200-ML reserve. This reserve will be crucial during periods of low water inflow from the Angat-Ipo Dam system due to insufficient rainfall or reduced allocations.
Engr. Ronaldo C. Padua, Maynilad’s Water Supply Operations head, explained, “Our ongoing rehabilitation of the La Mesa Treatment Plant includes new sludge treatment facilities, allowing us to repurpose the existing lagoons as a raw water storage site. This maximizes the site’s value and helps address our growing need for increased water storage.”
Scheduled for completion by the fourth quarter of 2025, this 200-ML reservoir will be Maynilad’s first dedicated raw water storage facility, as its 38 other reservoirs are currently used exclusively for treated water. In addition to increasing storage capacity, the reservoir will serve as a settlement basin, reducing water turbidity before it enters the treatment plant. This feature is particularly beneficial during the rainy season when raw water turbidity is typically higher.
“This new reservoir will not only expand our water storage capacity but also ensure a more reliable water supply during challenging conditions, such as high turbidity and reduced inflows from the Angat and Ipo Dams,” said Maynilad Chief Operating Officer Randolph T. Estrellado.
Maynilad is the largest private water concessionaire in the Philippines, serving the West Zone of the Greater Manila Area. Its service area includes several cities within Metro Manila and parts of Cavite Province
