Upper Wawa Dam

This article is about the dam constructed in 2025. For the dam constructed in 1904, see Wawa Dam.

Upper Wawa Dam
Location in Luzon Show map of Luzon Location in the Philippines Show map of Philippines
Country	Philippines
Location	San Rafael, Rodriguez, Rizal
Coordinates	14°42′0″N121°12′10″E / 14.70000°N 121.20278°E / 14.70000; 121.20278
Purpose	Water supply and storage, regulation, flood control [1]
Status	Operational
Construction began	2021 [2]
Opening date	2025
Operator(s)	Manila Water [3]
Dam and spillways
Impounds	Marikina River
Height (thalweg)	84 m (276 ft) [4]
Elevation at crest	140 m (460 ft) [4]
Spillway type	Gated ogee weir with open air chute channel [4]
Reservoir
Total capacity	450 ha (4.5 km2) [2]

The Upper Wawa Dam is a concrete dam over the Marikina River, located in San Rafael, Rodriguez, Rizal, Philippines. It is constructed between 2021 and 2025.

Background

Upper Wawa Dam is constructed as part of the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project, a two-phase infrastructure initiative that aims to address water supply shortages in Metro Manila and the nearby Rizal province. The first phase of the project is the construction of the Tayabasan weir, a 25-meter roller-compacted concrete structure designed to deliver 80 million liters per day (MLD). It was completed in 2022, and is composed of three parts: the weir, a water treatment plant and a pumping station, and the buried water pipeline. The second phase of the project is the construction of the Upper Wawa Dam, which is designed to deliver 518 million liters per day (MLD). ^[5]

Construction

Construction of the dam began in 2021. ^[2] By the end of 2023, the dam is over 70% completed and is on track to be completed by 2025. ^[6]

It is the largest water supply dam to be constructed in over 50 years, next to Angat Dam. ^{[1] [7]}

References

1. "Upper Wawa Dam helped mitigate flooding —Prime Infra". GMA News Online. 30 July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
2. Arcalas, Jasper Emmanuel (21 June 2025). "Razon–led firm completes P26 billion Wawa dam project". PhilStar Global. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
3. "Prime Infra consolidates Wawa water project under Manila Water". BusinessWorld. 1 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
4. "EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOR THE PUBLIC (2020): UPPER WAWA DAM: WAWA BULK WATER SUPPLY PROJECT" (PDF). Environmental Management Bureau. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
5. "Razon firm completes first phase of Wawa water project". BusinessWorld. 5 July 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
6. Gonzales, Anna Leah (27 December 2023). "Upper Wawa Dam to start operations by end of 2025". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
7. Esguerra, Darryl John (10 July 2024). "PBBM to operators: Use dams to generate renewable energy". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 22 July 2025.