Water agencies in Manila, Phili-ppines, may tap the US$ 8.9-million newly rehabilitated Magallanes wastewater treatment plant, which can supply up to 34-million litres of water per day. The treated water, however, is not intended for drinking - yet.
According to Manila Water President Antonino Aquino, the treatment plant in Makati City is also capable of treating wastewater for human consumption. "The water can also be used for drinking; the plant is able to do that technically," Aquino told reporters at the inauguration of the treatment plant on10 February 2004. But Aquino doubts if consumers would swallow the idea of drinking water that has been treated knowing that the used water had come from households, including sewage. This is different from the La Mesa Water Treatment Plants and the Balara Treatment Plant, which treat raw water from Angat Dam and La Mesa Dam, respectively, after which Manila Water and Maynilad distribute potable water to households.
Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Elisea Gozun, commended the work made by Manila Water in cooperation with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System in light of the water conservation campaign of the government to prevent a water shortage in Metro Manila and Central Luzon.
