PhilHydro upgrades Legazpi water facility

THE Philippine Hydro Inc. (PhilHydro), a wholly owned subsidiary of Maynilad Water Services Inc., invested P50 million to upgrade its Legazpi City Water Treatment Plant in Albay, which supplies potable water to approximately 22,000 households in the area.

The upgrade includes the installation of clarifier technology in the facility’s treatment process, which enhances the removal of sediments from raw water, making treatment faster and more efficient.

With this improvement, the plant can maintain its production capacity of 30 million liters per day (MLD), even during the rainy season when turbidity levels in the raw water increase. Turbidity refers to the cloudiness of a fluid due to the concentration of suspended particles.

This project aligns with PhilHydro’s efforts to address the impact of climate change on the quality of raw water drawn from the Yawa and Pawa rivers, which supply Legazpi City.

“The increased turbidity of river water, exacerbated by human activities upstream and soil erosion during heavy rains, requires this additional water treatment process. The upgraded facility will ensure consistent water quality and supply, even in these challenging conditions,” said PhilHydro General Manager Mirla de Leon. “Our continued investment in infrastructure demonstrates our commitment to providing quality service to Legazpeños.”

PhilHydro operates under a 25-year contract to supply treated water to the Legazpi City Water District, which is responsible for maintaining the distribution network and directly selling the water to households in the area.