Maynilad Water Services has awarded Acuriant Technologies the first phase of a 100 million litres per day ceramic ultrafiltration retrofit at Putatan Water Treatment Plant 1.
The Metro Manila project will replace the plant’s existing polymeric ultrafiltration train with Acuriant’s Nanostone ceramic UF technology.
Phase one covers 50 million litres per day, with a second phase expected later in 2026.
The full retrofit is targeted for mid-2027.
Why is the Putatan Water Treatment Plant being upgraded?
Putatan Water Treatment Plant 1 treats raw water from Laguna de Bay.
Acuriant described Laguna de Bay as one of Metro Manila’s most operationally challenging surface water sources.
The retrofit is designed to improve treatment performance under variable feed water conditions.
Ceramic membranes can maintain output through high solids loading and challenging feed quality.
They can also tolerate more rigorous chemical and mechanical cleaning regimens and restore permeability after each cleaning.
- Want more information on what Inside Water is up to? Sign up for our weekly email, landing in inboxes with the latest news.
- Do you want the magazine delivered to your letterbox? Sign up here to subscribe.
How was the technology tested?
Acuriant’s work at Putatan began with a pilot demonstration in November 2023.
The pilot tested the performance of ceramic UF on Laguna Lake water under design and off-design conditions.
Maynilad then commissioned a 20 million litres per day full-scale ceramic UF facility, which was inaugurated in 2024.
That system has been operating at full designed capacity since December 2024.
Acuriant said the 20 MLD system continued to produce water meeting potable drinking water standards during periods when turbidity exceeded the original design basis.
When will the new phase deliver water?
First water from phase one is scheduled for the end of December 2026.
Full phase one capacity is targeted for March 2027.
The complete 100 MLD retrofit, across both phases, is targeted for mid-2027.
Acuriant Technologies Chief Executive Officer Juergen von Hollen said the project builds on earlier work between the companies.
“The Putatan project reflects the strength of the partnership that has developed between Maynilad and Acuriant over the past several years,” von Hollen said.
“The pilot program and subsequent 20 MLD facility provided a strong foundation for this decision and enabled both teams to evaluate ceramic ultrafiltration under actual operating conditions at PWTP-1. We are grateful for Maynilad’s confidence in our team and look forward to working together on the successful delivery of this next phase.”
What does this mean for membrane treatment?
The project shows how utilities are applying ceramic ultrafiltration to more difficult surface water sources.
Footprint is also important for retrofit projects because new treatment equipment often needs to fit inside an existing plant envelope.
Acuriant said its Nanostone platform can pack high treatment capacity into a compact footprint.
