WL | Delft Hydraulics will conduct an integrated water management study on Laguna de Bay, a lake with a 90,000 hectare surface area in the immediate vicinity of Manila. There are numerous conflicting interests in the exploitation of this polluted lake, which is the second largest in south-east Asia: the extraction of drinking water for Manila, the fishing industry, the discharge of untreated domestic and industrial wastewater, alluvial deposits, a polluted lake sediment and land reclamation.

This project will include a Decision Supports System that describes the present and future functioning of the lake and proposes technically and economically feasible solutions within the context of the sustainable development of the region. On the basis of this water management system a plan of action will be drafted for an integrated approach to the problems of the lake. Another part of the Sustainable Development of the Laguna de Bay Environment Project includes the transfer of knowledge concerning integrated water management and environmental impact assessment to the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA).

WL | Delft Hydraulics is the principle contractor in the project. The other members of the consortium are Haskoning, NITG-TNO, Jan van 't Hoff Consultancy and Ronald Waterman. Local partners are DCCD Engineering Corporation, the Marine Science Institute, the National Institute of Geological Sciences and the Mines and Geoscience Bureau. The project started in March 2000 and will last two years. Further information from lily.derksen@wldelft.nl and http://www.wldelft.nl