Wawa Dam’s preemptive water release mitigated metro flooding, says operator Prime Infra

The preemptive release of water from Wawa Dam in Rizal at the height of Super Typhoon Carina last week helped mitigate flooding in the low-lying areas of the province and easter Metro Manila, the company that manages the joint venture project said over the weekend.

In a statement, WawaJVCo Inc. — led by businessman Enrique Razon Jr.'s Prime Infra unit — also explained that the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project, specifically the Upper Wawa Dam, began impounding its reservoir on July 10, and its strategic release of water significantly reduced the impact on downstream communities.

During a briefing on July 26, Rizal Governor Nina Ynares informed President Marcos that the Upper Wawa Dam's reservoir, which was expected to take six months to fill, nearly reached capacity in two days due to heavy rainfall.

The controlled impoundment reduced the floodwater discharge downstream from 2,100 cubic meters per second to 200 m³/s, mitigating potential flooding by a factor of 10.

President Marcos, who attended the dam's impounding ceremony, acknowledged the dam’s effectiveness.

The provincial government emphasized that the dam's reservoir, covering 450 hectares and holding up to 120 million cubic meters of water, was pivotal in protecting lives and property during the typhoon.

The Upper Wawa Dam is expected to supply bulk water by the end of 2025, contributing to water security and flood management in the region.

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