Maynilad has awarded Acuriant the first phase of a ceramic ultrafiltration retrofit at Putatan Water Treatment Plant 1, supporting more resilient drinking water treatment as Laguna Lake source-water conditions become increasingly variable.
Maynilad Water Services Inc. has awarded Acuriant Technologies, Inc. phase one of a 100 million litres per day (MLD) ceramic ultrafiltration retrofit programme at Putatan Water Treatment Plant 1 (PWTP-1) in Metro Manila, Philippines.
The first phase covers 50 MLD. A second phase is expected later in 2026, with the full 100 MLD retrofit targeted for mid-2027, according to Acuriant.
The programme will replace the plant’s existing polymeric ultrafiltration train with Acuriant’s Nanostone ceramic UF technology. Maynilad has also confirmed the phased replacement of ultrafiltration membranes at PWTP-1 with ceramic UF membranes in an official project announcement.
PWTP-1 treats raw water from Laguna de Bay, also known as Laguna Lake, which Maynilad has described as a challenging source because of increasingly variable raw water conditions.
Nanostone ceramic ultrafiltration module. Image: Acuriant Technologies
Ceramic ultrafiltration retrofit targets Laguna Lake variability
The ceramic ultrafiltration retrofit is intended to strengthen PWTP-1’s ability to treat raw water from Laguna Lake under changing feed-water conditions.
Acuriant said its Nanostone ceramic ultrafiltration platform is designed for water applications where feed conditions are variable and demanding. The company said ceramic membranes can withstand high solids loading and challenging feed quality, while tolerating chemical and mechanical cleaning regimes.
The company also said the technology can provide high treatment capacity within a compact footprint, which is important for retrofit projects where equipment must fit within an existing plant envelope.
The project follows Maynilad’s earlier adoption of ceramic UF technology at a 20 MLD Laguna Lake modular treatment plant, which was inaugurated in 2024.
Pilot and 20 MLD system informed project decision
Acuriant’s involvement at PWTP-1 began with a pilot demonstration in November 2023. The pilot assessed ceramic UF performance using Laguna Lake water under design and off-design conditions.
According to Acuriant, stable operation during the pilot led Maynilad to commission a 20 MLD full-scale ceramic UF facility, which has been operating at full designed capacity since December 2024.
The company said the 20 MLD system continued to operate during periods when turbidity levels exceeded the facility’s original design basis, including during extreme weather events. It said the system continued to produce water that met potable drinking water standards.
First water from phase one of the latest project is scheduled for the end of December 2026. Full phase-one capacity is targeted for March 2027.
Acuriant cites partnership with Maynilad
Juergen von Hollen, Chief Executive Officer of Acuriant Technologies, Inc., said: “The Putatan project reflects the strength of the partnership that has developed between Maynilad and Acuriant over the past several years. 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.”
Maynilad is the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System concessionaire for the West Zone of the Greater Manila Area. Its service area includes parts of Metro Manila and Cavite Province.
Acuriant is a membrane technology company offering ceramic and polymeric filtration and separation systems for municipal and industrial markets. The company is headquartered in Boston, with production in Germany and the United States.
Water treatment technology context
The ceramic ultrafiltration retrofit adds to a wider shift towards more resilient membrane-based treatment where utilities face changing source-water quality, space constraints and rising demand for stable potable water production.
H2O Global News recently covered Acuriant’s launch of its Nanostone containerised CUF system, which targets municipal drinking water, reverse osmosis pretreatment, industrial process water and emergency capacity applications.
Source: Acuriant Technologies, Inc.; Maynilad Water Services Inc.
