First Balfour, together with its joint venture partners CMC di Ravenna of Italy and Chun Wo Construction & Engineering of Hong Kong, entered into a contract with Manila Water to design and construct the PhP 5.3 billion Novaliches-Balara Aqueduct 4 (NBAQ4) project.

The NBAQ4 project is part of Manila Water’s improvement and expansion initiatives in the East Concession Area in coordination with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS). One of the largest and most important infrastructure projects it has undertaken to date, it involves the construction of a new intake facility at the La Mesa reservoir, a 7.3 kilometer underground aqueduct passing under Commonwealth Avenue, and an outlet facility at the Balara Water Treatment Plant.

The existing aqueduct system, aqueducts 1, 2, and 3, is required to continuously deliver 1600 million liters per day (MLD) of raw water to Balara Treatment Plants 1 and 2. Built in 1929, 1956 and 1968 respectively, they are nearing, if not already exceeding, the service life of 50 years for concrete structures. Through the project, the construction of a fourth aqueduct which is designed to latest seismic standards will enable the assessment and rehabilitation of the existing aqueducts.

Once completed and commissioned in 2021, the new aqueduct will be capable of delivering 1,000 MLD to the treatment plants ensuring the reliability and security of its raw water transmission system.