Future-Proofing Metro Manila’s Water: Inside the ₱970M San Juan Reservoir Rebuild

Manila Water is pushing to finish the construction of its new San Juan Reservoir by the end of 2026, boosting water storage security for communities across Metro Manila. The ₱970-million facility is specifically built to withstand severe natural disasters, ensuring households retain access to clean water even after major emergency events.

The project replaces an aging water reservoir originally constructed in 1968. Structural evaluations conducted by DCCD Engineering Corporation highlighted notable wear on the original facility's walls and roof slab after decades of continuous use. The assessments revealed that the legacy structure faced a high risk of failure during severe seismic activity, including a potential 7.2-magnitude earthquake. Repeated patch jobs on the top slab also posed long-term risks to the quality of water fed into the San Juan Pumping Station.

Rather than relying on ongoing temporary repairs, Manila Water opted for a complete overhaul. The project covers the full demolition of the old site and the construction of a modern 56-million-liter facility equipped with updated mechanical, electrical, structural, and instrumentation systems designed to modern engineering standards.

Construction reached 84 percent completion as of July 2026, keeping the facility on track for full commissioning before the year ends. Once operational, the reservoir will significantly reinforce the disaster resilience of the East Zone supply network against climate hazards and earthquakes.

According to Dittie Galang, Corporate Communications Group Head at Manila Water, investing in disaster-resilient facilities allows the utility to maintain safe, uninterrupted water distribution to its customer base, even during major environmental disruptions.

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