Wawa Dam

Wawa Dam (also known as Montalban Dam)[1] is a gravity dam constructed over the Marikina River in the municipality of Rodriguez in Rizal province, Philippines.[2] The slightly arched dam is situated in the 360-metre (1,180 ft) high Montalban Gorge or Wawa Gorge,[3] a water gap in the Sierra Madre Mountains, east of Manila.

Scenery in June 2013

Wawa Dam
Wawa Dam
Montalban Rodriguez Rizal Show map of Luzon Wawa Dam (Philippines) Show map of Philippines
Country	Philippines
Location	Montalban Gorge, Rodriguez, Rizal
Coordinates	14°43′40″N 121°11′30″E
Purpose	Water supply (original) Recreation (current)
Construction began	1904
Opening date	1909
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Arch-gravity dam
Impounds	Marikina River
Length	280 feet (85 m)
Spillways	One
Spillway type	Ogee crest
Reservoir
Maximum water depth	13 m
Normal elevation	57 masl
Power Station
Operator(s)	Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System
Decommission date	1968

Construction of the dam began in 1904, and began operations in 1909 during the American colonial era to provide the water needs for Manila.[4][5][6]

During World War II, Wawa Dam became the focal point of the battle between the US Army's XI Corps and the Imperial Japanese Army's Shimbu Group. The engagement, also known as the Battle of Wawa Dam saw the opposing sides in a seesaw battle along the Montalban-Antipolo hills from March to May 1945.

Wawa Dam used to be the only source of water for Manila until Angat Dam was built and Wawa was abandoned in 1968.[7] Due to insufficiency of water supply for Metro Manila, there was a strong clamor to reuse the dam.[8] The dam and surrounding area is currently protected as part of the Pamitinan Protected Landscape.