MAYNILAD Water Services Inc. announced it is implementing various measures to fight the algal bloom in Laguna de Bay that, the firm said, is adversely affecting its water production capacity at the firm’s Putatan Water Treatment (PWT) plants.

The company said it has been dosing Laguna de Bay—its primary raw water source—with treatment chemicals to control algal build-up. The firm added it is using a “silt curtain” to minimize algae intrusion into Maynilad’s treatment facilities plus clean-up of the dissolved air flotation treatment process of the PWT plants.

Maynilad added it will undertake medium-term and long-term interventions to address the raw water quality issues in Laguna de Bay. One of these is the plan to dredge the portion of the lake encompassed by its silt curtain where it plans to install several units of ultrasonic algae control equipment around the treatment plants.

In June 2019, Maynilad’s water production was affected by an algal bloom in Laguna de Bay, when the maximum algal bio count reached 13,230 counts per milliliter (mL).

While the company has since invested in additional treatment technology to address such algae proliferation, it was still constrained to reduce production this time around, as the algal bio count in June 2022 reached an unprecedented peak of 72,722 counts/mL.

Algal blooms arise from shifts in the nutrient balance of the lake water resulting from chemical, industrial or agricultural wastes and leachates.

And while the company has been pouring investments into treatment technology upgrades and interventions, its water production will continue to be affected unless more drastic measures are taken to protect Laguna de Bay.

The company says it has been working closely with the various stakeholders in Laguna de Bay as it seeks to ensure the lake’s sustainability as a source for drinking water.

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