Maynilad Water Services Inc., the West Zone concessionaire, is aiming to complete three additional small-scale treatment plants in Cavite province between this year and 2026.

These plants will utilize water from idle dams.

• The first treatment plant, located in Imus, is expected to be operational by the third quarter of this year. Once completed, it will produce 4 million liters per day (MLD) of potable water.
• The second treatment plant in Bacoor City is scheduled for completion by the first half of 2025.
• Both Imus facilities will source raw water from the Julian and Imus rivers, while the two plants in Bacoor will draw water from the Molino and Ligas dams, which are fed by the Zapote River.

Maynilad previously announced plans to invest approximately P3.2 billion in constructing four modular treatment plants in Bacoor and Imus cities.

These plants will have a combined water output of 47 MLD and will meet the requirements of around 200,000 customers in the area. The facilities will utilize ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis technology to treat raw water from nearby dams and rivers.

Maynilad’s Chief Operating Officer, Randolph Estrellado, explained that Cavite is the farthest point of their concession area, and there are portions that do not yet receive 24-hour water supply.

The new facilities will draw water from adjacent dams and serve as a dedicated supply source to extend availability for these underserved areas.

This initiative is the result of a policy innovation introduced by Environment Undersecretary Carlos Primo David.

Idle dams can now be converted into multipurpose use, allowing companies like Maynilad to tap water for their customers.

Previously, 70 percent of water resources nationwide were controlled by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) for irrigation purposes only. However, during the rainy season, water from NIA-controlled dams remained unused, leading to waste.