The Parañaque NEW WATER Treatment Plant produces NEW WATER which is supplied to 38,000 customers

Maynilad, which serves around 9.5 million people in the western half of Metro Manila, embarked on a project that would convert used water from households into drinkable water supply called NEW WATER. This is to reduce its dependence on Angat Dam, which is the primary water source of some 15 million Metro Manila residents.

The move towards potable water reuse is part of the company’s bid to boost available supplies given the growing demand for water, and the strain on existing raw water sources due to climate change effects. Water reuse will expand Maynilad’s options, especially when existing sources are compromised by drought or typhoons, thus enhancing water security, reliabilit and sustainability. Consequently, Maynilad built the “NEW WATER Treatment Plant”, which receives treated effluent from its Parañaque Sewage Treatment Plant and converts it to drinkable water supply that meets the 2017 Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water.

The Department of Health issued a Conditional Operational Permit allowing Maynilad to operate its NEW WATER facility for one year on October 24, 2022. Piped-in distribution commenced on October, 26 2022 to two barangays (districts) in Parañaque City, benefitting 38,700 residents. After eight months of stringent monitoring by the Department of Health – Metro Manila Center for Health Development, Maynilad was granted a permanent operational permit for its NEW WATER Treatment Plant in Parañaque City, which converts used water to drinking water.

At present, NEW WATER constitutes around 0.4% of Maynilad’s overall water supply, and is expected to increase 3.7% by 2029 which will benefit around 600,000 customers. NEW WATER is the first implementation of ‘potable water reuse’ in the Philippines, and is the first ‘direct potable water reuse’ in Asia. The project won ‘Water Reuse Project of the Year’ at the 2023 Global Water Awards in Berlin, Germany.

Maynilad NEW WATER Facility receives Permanent Operational Permit from DOH