Water for All – MWCI and MDC Agrees
By: Kyle B. Aranza & Anna Aurora A. Despues

The Rodriguez Water Treatment Plant, a Php 3.2 billion project of the Manila Water Company Inc. (MWCI) capable of bringing 150 million liters of water per day down to consumers in Marikina, San Mateo, and Rodriguez, Rizal had their ground breaking event at the La Mesa Watershed in Payatas, Quezon City last June 23, 2010.

The new plants’ predecessors in Balara were built in 1935 and 1958, making the Rodriguez Water Treatment Plant a long awaited project originally planned to be constructed as early as 1998. 

 “The Rodriguez Water Treatment Plant Project is very significant and meaningful because once the whole facility is completed; water will now be treated at La Mesa instead of Balara. This means greater efficiency because water will now be distributed at a shorter distance to reach Rodriguez, San Mateo and Marikina,” Rene D. Almendras, Manila Water Company President said.

In the past, water from La Mesa had to pass through the Balara aqueduct before being distributed to consumers, a process that took so much time.  With the new plant in place, water can now be processed and then directly distributed to customers in the target areas.

With the objective of providing sufficient water for some 200,000 households, the Rodriguez Water Treatment Facility includes a reservoir capable of storing up to 40 million liters of water at any one given time and uses the natural pull of gravity to bring water down to the service areas of Manila Water.

Manila Water awarded a Design and Build Contract for the new facility to the Makati Development Corporation in February of this year.  The project is slated to run through to February of 2012.

The Groundbreaking Ceremonies’ guest list included MWCI President Jose Rene D. Almendras, Quezon City Mayor Sonny Belmonte, the Rizal Provincial Governor Casimiro Ynarez, Jr., Ayala Land Inc. President Mr. Antonino T. Aquino, and Makati Development Corporation President & CEO Mr. Raul M. Irlanda.  President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III was also invited but unfortunately was not able to attend the event.

Symbolic of giving back to Mother Nature even as we take part of her bountiful water resources, guests were encouraged to plant tree saplings in the area of the new facility, the start of what Manila Water foresees will become a semi-forested area designed to protect the new water shed.
Highlighting the groundbreaking ceremonies was the lowering of the Time Capsule which contained the Project Blueprint.

Posted: July 2010