WATER SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION IN THE PHILIPPINES

Water supply is the process of providing water in a systematic way through installed pumps and pipe lines. But
before the water is released to the public, it must go through a number of screening processes before it is safe to
release to the people.

There are about four different sources of water in the Philippines. These are the rivers, lakes, river basins, ground
water reservoirs. There are about 438 major dams and 423 smaller dams in the Philippines. There are about four
major groundwater reservoirs; these are located in Cagayan, Central Luzon, Agusan, and Cotabato. Ground Water
reservoirs are the main sources of irrigation and the food industry but generally used in the food industry. The lakes
are mainly used for fish cultivation and fish farms. While rivers are built with dams to store water and this serves as
the water provider for the people. There are about 438 major dams and 423 smaller dams in the Philippines.

There are 2 major companies that serve as the distributors of clean water to the people within the metropolitan area.
These companies are Maynilad and Manila Waters. Both of these companies have their own territories in distributing
clean water. Manila water covers the east of the metropolitan area, which covers twenty-three cities and
municipalities and fourteen areas in the province of Rizal while Maynilad took a hold of the west zone of the
metropolitan area. They cover about seventeen cities and municipalities including Bacoor, Imus, Kawit, Noveleta and
Rosario which are part of the Cavite province.

Manila Water gets its water from three dams; Angat Dam located in San Lorenzo, Norzagaray, Bulacan. Ipo Dam
also located in San Lorenzo, Norzagaray, Bulacan. And the La Mesa Dam located in Novaliches, Quezon City. They
operate about three water treatment facilities: Balara Treatment Plants, East La Mesa Treatment Plant and Cardona
Treatment Plant.

Maynilad has about 6,831 pipelines that could reach up to UAE and they operate 4 treatment plants. La Mesa and
Putatan Water Treatment Plants.

Of course, these sources of water are raw and it is not sure if the water is safe to consume, it may still have large
debris that have entered the water source. That’s why the water is processed before its release to the public. There
are eight ways to process water. The first is called screening. Screening is the separation of the water and any large
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debris that has found its way into the water. It may manmade or not like trash, sticks, leaves. This process is
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important not only for the benefit of the people but also the machines that is responsible to convert this raw water into
clean water for the people. This prevents the clogging and damage to the water intake.

The second way is called Pre-Chlorination or Disinfection. There may still be bacteria lingering in the waters that
can’t be simply filtered. After all of the large debris are removed chlorine is added. This process kills any organisms
that can be harmful to humans and the process is repeated until the organisms are destroyed.

The next way is called Rapid Mixing. This process adds coagulation chemicals which are Aluminum sulfate and
polymer. This process vigorously mixes the water and the chemicals added to allow a “Floc” to form which is the
result to adding the chemicals to the water. Once small “Flocs” begin to form they slow down the mixing in order for
bigger sediments to form.

The fourth is called flocculation. Once the bigger sediments begin to form these sediments are too heavy in order to
float to the surface. Once this happens, they are ready to go to the next process.

Another way is called coagulation. Aluminum sulfate is added to the water that is entering the plant. It’s mixed
vigorously and then slowly as the process continues this allows large particles to form into a cluster or a clot.

The sixth is called sedimentation. Smaller particles such as sand and dirt can still easily pass-through screens and
can’t be filtered easily. This is where sedimentation comes into play. They make the water sit and over time the sand
and dirt settle at the bottom making the water rid of its impurities and can be extracted from the top and leaving the
sand and dirt at the bottom.

The next step is filtration. Pipes are installed with what is called a gravity filter which separates sand and gravel
pieces.

And the last is disinfection. This adds chlorine to the water to kill of organisms that are harmful to humans. Its cheap
and safe to add to the water.

Sources:

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 https://www.hisour.com/water-supply-in-the-philippines-
37203/#:~:text=The%20Philippines'%20main%20sources%20of,cubic%20meters%20of%20water%20annually.&text
=The%20four%20major%20groundwater%20reservoirs,Luzon%2C%20Agusan%2C%20and%20Cotabato.

https://www.rappler.com/business/how-manila-water-maynilad-got-concession-agreements

https://www.manilawater.com/customer/services/water-and-used-water-
facilities#:~:text=Conventional%20water%20treatment%20consists%20of,%2C%20filtration%20and%20disinfection
%2Fchlorination.&text=Raw%20water%20coming%20straight%20from,get%20rid%20of%20any%20germs.

https://www.mayniladwater.com.ph/our-company/facilities/

https://mwss.gov.ph/learn/how-water-is-being-processed/

https://www.yokogawa.com/ph/industries/water-wastewater/water-treatment/

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