Ayala-led Manila Water Company has inaugurated the Philippines’ first solar-powered water treatment facility – the South Septage Treatment Plant (SpTP) – in Taguig City. This is part of the company’s continuing efforts to conserve energy and reduce power costs.

The grid-tied solar-powered facility consists of a photovoltaic (PV) array, inverter, breaker box, and meter. PV panels convert solar energy to direct current that is in turn converted to alternating current by the inverters. The breaker box provides an interconnection point to the consumer or the grid, while the meter provides measurements of the actual power generated by the facility.

The solar-powered treatment facility that costs PhP 8.09 million is expected to lower SpTP’s power consumption by 20–30 per cent. This performance translates to monthly savings of more than 9,000 kWh, or about 110,000 kWh savings on an annual basis. Apart from the reduction in power bills, generated power is effectively utilised because there are no storage losses.

Owing to its various energy efficiency initiatives, Manila Water Company has also become the first Philippine company to be certified with the prestigious ISO 50001:2011 mark for Energy Management System by Certification International Philippines. The ISO 50001 recognises companies such as Manila Water for implementing a framework that incorporates the company’s energy performance into its management and operational practices.

Manila Water’s energy management initiatives are ISO-certified at the following facilities:

  • Five water pumping stations: Balara pumping station, Kingsville, San Juan reservoir and pumping station, along with the Fort Bonifacio and Siruna reservoirs and pumping stations; and
  • Five of its sewage treatment plants (STPs): Makati South STP, FTI SpTP in Taguig City, East Avenue STP, UP STP, and Pineda STP in Pasig City.

Manila Water is the sole provider of water and wastewater services to more than 6 million people in the East Zone of Metro Manila, specifically residents of parts of Quezon City and Manila, Marikina, Pasig, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Pateros, Makati, Taguig, and Rizal province.