Water for all: Building a resilient water future in the Philippines
Home to 115 million people, the Philippines is advancing its water infrastructure to support sustainable growth, environmental protection and long‑term resilience. With increasing national focus on water security and wastewater management, opportunities for innovative and sustainable solutions are gaining momentum.
Understanding water in the Philippines
As the Philippines continues to strengthen its water infrastructure, ensuring access to reliable and well‑managed water sources remains a key national priority. In Metro Manila and its surrounding provinces, water systems support millions of households, particularly during dry seasons, as urbanisation continues to accelerate.
To accelerate progress in sustainable water management, the Philippine government, together with water utility companies and private stakeholders, continues to expand wastewater treatment coverage through ongoing investments and regulatory initiatives, reinforcing its strong commitment to environmental protection and long‑term resilience.
Recognising the essential role of water in public health, economic growth and environmental sustainability, Hitachi partners closely with governments and utilities to strengthen water infrastructure and deliver long‑term, sustainable solutions.
Upgrading the Water Treatment Infrastructure in the Philippines
The Maynilad Water Services is partnering with Hitachi to upgrade eight of its Sewage Treatment Plants, ensuring that the treated wastewater discharged meets the government’s revised effluent standards.
According to Mako Kobayashi, General Manager for Water & Environment Business Unit at Hitachi Asia Ltd, Philippine Branch
“In the Philippines, the government is mandating a very stringent effluent water quality. Treatment processes are designed to achieve sufficient removal efficiency to meet DAO effluent standards."
The Pasay Water Reclamation Facility, one of Maynilad’s Sewage Treatment Plants, is leveraging Hitachi's cutting-edge PEGASUS (IFAS) technology. The PEGASUS technology uses advanced nitrifying pellets with immobilised microorganisms to achieve highly efficient nitrogen removal, ensuring that the treated effluent is safe for marine ecosystems and supports the protection of natural resources.
Once fully operational, the facility will be able to process up to 46.6 million litres of wastewater per day, serving approximately 130,000 population in Pasay City.
Upgrading the Water Treatment Infrastructure in the Philippines
Hitachi’s vision for water sustainability goes beyond traditional water treatment. Central to this vision is circular water management, which uses advanced wastewater treatment technologies to turn used water into a safe, reusable resource.
With cutting-edge technology, Hitachi can recycle used water for potable applications. The multi-barrier system approach incorporates ultrafiltration, advanced membrane technologies (Reverse Osmosis), and UV disinfection to produce high-grade recycled water from treated wastewater consistently.
As Mako explains in the vodcast, “We don't want to just dispose of the treated water. It's going to be a waste. We treat it with a multi-barrier solution using ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, ultraviolet, and AOP systems. This is going to be another alternative source for potable reuse. It's a recycling water system we call New Water.”
Maynilad is implementing its technology at its Pasay Water Reclamation Facility, marking a major step towards mitigating water shortage. The 12 million litres of New Water produced per day can support close to 60,000 households as a supplementary water source. Once completed, it will become the largest Direct Potable Reuse facility in Asia. Through this partnership, Hitachi and its Consortium partners, Metro Pacific Water Solutions and Meralco Energy, and Maynilad, are advancing a circular economy, demonstrating how sustainable technologies can transform wastewater into a renewable, valuable resource and reinforce Hitachi’s commitment to social innovation.
Shaping the Future of Data‑Driven, Smart Water Management
Beyond physical infrastructure, Hitachi is introducing intelligence into the water sector through digital technologies and IoT platforms. Using its proprietary MIZU LINK system, utilities can monitor treatment plants and distribution networks in real time.
MIZU LINK offers a comprehensive solution for monitoring, managing, and optimising water systems. It provides a clear overview of operations, supports data-driven decision-making and enables continuous improvement through real-time tracking of water parameters, proactive maintenance, and advanced analytics.
This digital approach transforms traditional utilities into smart water systems, empowering operators to make faster, more informed decisions, predict potential issues before they occur, and maintain and optimise water distribution for efficiency and sustainability. By integrating data intelligence with physical infrastructure, Hitachi is helping the Philippines move toward a resilient, future-ready water ecosystem.
A Sustainable Blueprint for the Future
Hitachi’s efforts in the Philippines demonstrate that technology, when guided by purpose, can transform how societies use, manage and value water. Its impact extends beyond the Philippines and makes a meaningful impact in communities across Southeast Asia.
From Singapore’s early seawater desalination projects to providing small islands in Indonesia with access to safe water, Hitachi’s work demonstrates that, with the right technology and partnerships, Southeast Asia can overcome its water challenges and secure clean, safe, and sustainable water for generations to come.
Through innovation, collaboration and purpose, Hitachi is helping shape a hopeful, resilient water future across Southeast Asia, working closely with partners and communities to define what’s next, together.
Date of Release: April 2026
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