UK consulting engineer Arup has won a contract to provide a water source for the Metro Manila district in the Philippines.
Arup will provide technical support throughout the bidding period, and will help implement two contracts for a system to supply 80 million litres of water a day from the Upper Wawa Dam. Among the services to be provided include design review, site supervision and contract management services.
At present, Metro Manila, which has a population of about 13 million, gets its water from the Angat, Ipo and La Mesa Dams.
Arup comments that drought conditions across the region, combined with a growing population, have led to difficulties in meeting water needs. "As a result, residents have experienced supply issues ranging from low pressure to no water at all," it adds.
The Wawa Dam should begin supplying water to Metro Manila by the end of next year, with an initial capacity of 80 million litres a day. By the end of 2025, the dam should be able to provide 518 million litres, which is sufficient to cater for around 3 million people.
Adrian Marsden, an associate director of Arup, said: "We have been involved in a number of major water projects in the Philippines, from fresh water supply to wastewater treatment and sewerage. With this landmark development, we are delighted to be able to work with Wawa JVCo to support the delivery of a new water source, fundamentally enhancing the water resilience of Metro Manila."
Wawa JVCo is made up of San Lorenzo Ruiz Builders & Developers and the Prime Metro Power Holdings Corporation.
Image: The existing Wawa Dam over the Marikina River in the Philippines, downstream of the future Upper Wawa dam (Arup)
