Metro Manila's perennial water supply woes are expected to end in 2025 when the Upper Wawa Dam, the second phase of the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project, which is now 70 percent completed, will be finished.

WawaJVCo Inc., led by Prime Infra, said the pivotal project remains on schedule to start commercial operations by 2025.

The Razon infrastructure flagship said the 85-meter roller-compacted concrete dam is expected to be finished in a few months, followed by the completion of the rest of the plant.

"The Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project aims to secure sufficient capacity to meet the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System's and its concessionaires' water needs. Phase 1 became operational in record time in October 2022," Prime Infra president and CEO Guillaume Lucci said.

Once operational, the dam will have a yearlong water supply capacity of over 700 million liters per day, or MLD. to benefit the residents of the greater Metro Manila area, including the province of Rizal.

Apart from providing a reliable water source, the Upper Wawa Dam will also help mitigate the perennial flooding problem downstream of the Marikina River.

Flagship project

Phase 2, or the Upper Wawa Dam, will deliver over 700 MLD of water by the end of 2025. The project's first phase, or the Tayabasan Weir, has been delivering an initial 80 MLD since it began operations.

"The exceptional construction pace at Upper Wawa Dam showcases Prime Infra's commitment to delivering on our commitments in developing water supply infrastructure at this scale. We are pleased that the project continues to be materially ahead of schedule. We take great pride in ensuring that we can sustain this pace and do so safely by 2025," Lucci said.

The Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project in Rizal is one of the national government's flagship infrastructure projects that will address water security, specifically in the MWSS service area.

The project is the largest water supply dam to be constructed in over 50 years after the Angat Dam. It will increase Manila Water Co.'s capacity by over 30 percent of its current water supply allocation from the Angat Dam of approximately 1,600 MLD.