P206-million sewage treatment plant in Makati completed

MANILA, Philippines - Manila Water yesterday announced the completion of a P206-million sewage treatment plant (STP) in Barangay Poblacion in Makati City, which aims to provide a 100-percent sewerage coverage in the East Zone.

“The Poblacion STP in Makati is now undergoing process proving for one year. It is a step in the full commissioning process that covers operational testing. Once it passes all required tests, it will become fully operational. The facility will be capable of processing 11 million liters per day of wastewater, bulk of which comes from domestic households,” said  Manila Water Project Manager Beth Domanais.

Geodino Carpio, Manila Water’s Group Director for Operations said the Poblacion STP is a “big step” in reviving the “old glory” of the Metro’s major river systems and will address the worsening conditions of the Marikina, San Juan and Pasig Rivers, collectively called the “Three River System.”

“These major bodies of water traverse Metro Manila and are now considered biologically dead or unsuitable to marine life due to the extremely high levels of pollution brought about by rapid urbanization and population growth,” Carpio said.

The Poblacion STP project, which began construction in 2009 was implemented in partnership with the local government of Makati, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Manila Water said.

The Poblacion STP was constructed on top of the flood control pond facility of the MMDA because they have difficulty acquiring land in Makati, it said.

Manila Water said the design of the facility is unique as it treats sewage collected by the pond through an extensive network of drains and canals without disrupting the existing operation of the flood control facility. 

“The unique design solution was arrived at allowing the STP to stand on top of the pond via 35 massive columns, 16 meters above the bottom of the pond,” said Domanais.