Manila Water Assures Water Quality Amidst 'Habagat' Challenges

Despite the challenges brought by the southwest monsoon or ‘habagat,’ Manila Water has announced it continues to provide safe and potable water to more than 7.9 million customers across the East Zone of Metro Manila and Rizal Province, maintaining high water quality standards even as heavy rains affected raw water sources. Heavy rainfall during the Habagat season can significantly increase the turbidity, or cloudiness, of raw water sources as runoff carries silt, mud, and other particles into rivers and reservoirs. These conditions require more intensive treatment and monitoring to ensure that water remains safe for public consumption. To address these challenges, Manila Water’s treatment plants are designed to operate within a water quality envelope that enables facilities to effectively process highly turbid raw water while maintaining compliance with drinking water standards. The treatment process employs multiple barriers, including coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection, supported by continuous monitoring and operational adjustments as needed. For July 2026, Manila Water achieved 100% compliance with the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water (PNSDW) at its treatment plant outlets, demonstrating the effectiveness and resilience of its treatment processes amid challenging weather conditions. The company also recorded 99.75% compliance with PNSDW requirements across its distribution network, significantly exceeding the regulatory target of 95%. Further reinforcing its commitment to public health and regulatory compliance, Manila Water attained 100% compliance with required water quality monitoring and sampling activities during the month. A total of 6,780 water quality samples were collected and analyzed across water treatment plants, service reservoirs, pumping stations, distribution lines, and customer taps, fully meeting regulatory sampling requirements. “Despite the challenges brought by heavy rains during the Habagat season, our treatment facilities and water quality teams work continuously to ensure that the water reaching customers remains safe, potable, and compliant with national standards,” said Dittie Galang, Manila Water Communication Affairs Group Head. Central to these efforts is Manila Water’s Water Safety Plan, a comprehensive risk management framework that identifies and manages potential hazards from source to tap. The program is implemented across the company’s water treatment and distribution systems to help ensure the continuous delivery of safe drinking water even under varying environmental conditions. Manila Water continues to invest in advanced treatment technologies, laboratory capabilities, and operational improvements to strengthen system resilience during extreme weather events. Through these efforts, the company remains committed to protecting public health and ensuring that customers continue to receive safe, reliable, and high-quality drinking water throughout the year.