Reinforcing water sustainability in Masinag

Utilizing rainwater in the Philippines helps provide a vital supplementary water source and flood-mitigation tool amidst the country’s severe seasonal extremes due to El Niño.

However, even before the weather extremities in the country, SM has already pledged to uphold water stewardship in its properties across the Philippines for almost 40 years now. The mall operator continues to innovate its sustainability approach to reduce its reliance on freshwater resources.

The installation of its latest Rainwater Treatment Facility (RTF) in SM City Masinag comes as the country prepares for El Niño, which is expected to bring drought and dry spells until 2027. 

“As a historically rainfall rich area, SM City Masinag was strategically chosen for SM’s second RTF,” said Engr. Liza Silerio, Vice President for Corporate Compliance, SM Supermalls. “This facility transforms water runoff into more valuable use, innovating our approach in supporting the community and national water conservation efforts not just during El Niño, but for the future.”

The new RTF at SM City Masinag is the second of its kind in Luzon, converting rainwater into safe and potable water for SM Supermalls’ operations and tenant use. This reduces overall demand on municipal water systems, giving nearby communities access to freshwater for daily needs and essential community services.

The facility has a capacity to treat up to 200 cubic meters or 200,000 liters of rainwater per day, the facility may provide one-third of the mall’s annual water consumption, equivalent to 23,000 cubic meters, or an estimated nine Olympic-sized swimming pools.

It uses a multi-stage water treatment process that integrates disinfection, filtration, and reverse osmosis. The process includes stringent monitoring and testing to ensure the water is safe and meets required standards. 

Beyond these benefits, the facility advances SM Prime’s 2040 net-zero ambition by lowering indirect emissions from water extraction, pumping, treatment, and distribution, supporting the company’s broader decarbonization strategy.

The RTF at SM City Masinag builds on the success of the SM City Baguio facility in Benguet, a province that is also rainfall-rich yet water-scarce. The facility has processed more than 65,000 cubic meters of rainwater, equivalent to the water consumption of 6,500 households, since it began operations in 2022. It has reduced pressure on local water systems and provided the community with a sustainable water supply.

“From the 1990s up until today and toward the future, SM Supermalls’ commitment to water conservation has remained firm. Access to water is a fundamental human right. We believe that protecting this resource is a shared responsibility. As such, we must continually champion responsible water stewardship to ensure it remains accessible to all,” said Silerio.