In Parañaque City, located in the Philippines, access to clean water has long been a pressing issue—exacerbated by the impacts of climate change and rapid urban growth. As temporary solutions proved insufficient, Maynilad Water Services launched a comprehensive project aimed at creating a sustainable, long-term water supply system. The initiative involved turning treated wastewater into potable water, using digital design tools to plan a system capable of serving around 270,000 people.

Engineering a resilient water system

To meet the urgent needs of the community, Maynilad developed a new distribution network that channels 10 million liters of potable water per day. The USD 2.21 million project introduced the first technology of its kind in Asia and included the installation of new 300-millimeter PVC pipelines. In addition to providing clean water, the network was designed to function under future climate-related and demographic pressures, making resilience a key objective from the start.

Navigating challenges with digital support

The project had to overcome several logistical and technical hurdles, particularly the need to complete construction on an accelerated timeline. Limited integration space with the existing infrastructure and fluctuating pressure requirements required flexible and accurate planning. Using Bentley’s OpenFlows Water modeling tool, engineers simulated multiple scenarios to determine the best system configuration, optimizing tank sizes, pipe layouts, and pump performance. Real-world data helped calibrate the model, ensuring the new network would meet real operating conditions.

Delivering long-term value

Despite the ambitious timeframe, the project was completed ahead of schedule. Alongside its immediate social benefit, the network is projected to generate annual revenue equal to its development cost, making it economically sustainable. The use of a digital twin also improved collaboration between stakeholders and allowed engineers to anticipate system behaviors, reducing the risk of failure and enabling a smoother rollout.

Maynilad is now using this project as a blueprint for further efforts in water reuse and community education. With technology-driven planning and strong coordination, the initiative demonstrates how digital tools can help address essential infrastructure needs in a rapidly changing world.