MWSS eyes Wawa Dam for additional water supply

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), as part of an effort to look for sources of additional water for Metro Manila, is seriously studying the possibility of tapping the Wawa Dam in Montalban, Rizal.

MWSS Administrator Diosdado Jose Allado said he has instructed MWSS engineers to look into the feasibility of sourcing water from the nearby Wawa Dam. He said the Wawa Dam could provide up to 50 million liters per day (MLD) of water.

The MWSS has not utilized the Wawa Dam for domestic water purposes because it poses some problems, Allado said, adding that the dam dries up at certain times of the year, and is subject to possible contamination from a nearby farms which releases its wastewater into the area.

However, the MWSS is now forced to seriously look into the Wawa Dam following the continued delay in the implementation of the Laiban Dam bulkwater project.

Allado said these are only “stop gap” measures and that a more permanent solution must be found to prevent a water source shortage by 2016.

The Wawa Dam was constructed in 1909 by the Americans as a reservoir and pumping facility. It became a battlefield during the Japanese occupation and has many caves which can be explored during summer when the dam virtually dries up.