WJ has developed a unique global presence in the dewatering industry for over 20 years. As of 2020, the company had permeant, well established businesses and permeant offices in the UK, Canada, Poland and thoughout the Middle East.
In April 2021, WJ Groundwater was able to add the Philippines to this list after being awarded the USD $6 million contract for the dewatering of the Clark-Malolos Railway Station at Clark International Airport, 100 km north from Manila. WJ has since established an office with over 40 staff, including geotechnical engineers, technicians and managers and has gone on to tender for and win dewatering, pumping and specialist equipment rental contracts throughout the country.
Clark-Malolos Railway Station
The principal contractor for the project is a joint venture between Acciona and EE+I, one of the Philippines’ largest contractors. WJ Groundwater’s previous experience of working for Acciona on the Dubai Expo 2020 Metro Extension in the UAE was crucial to the success of the bid. As the contractor witnessed WJ’s technical expertise, they were keen to put us to work once more. WJ has demonstrable skill in optimising dewatering strategies to drive down costs, combined with rapid mobilisation, and effective installation techniques on demanding programmes such as the dewatering of Clark-Malolos Station. In addition to the complex and large-scale deep well dewatering for the 1.6 km long cut, cover and station box, WJ Groundwater also performed the wellpoint dewatering of approximately 100 foundation pits, required for the supports of a 5 km viaduct section. With peak flows of over 500 litres per second (l/s) and an installed capacity of over 1000 l/s, the system achieved its goal and allowed the contractor to place the reinforced slab. Despite the COVID-19 travel restrictions in place at the time the project was commenced, WJ’s network of current and previous Filipino employees from within the WJ Group businesses in the Middle East allowed a qualified and experienced team to be rapidly deployed to establish the project team.
Batangas Combined Cycle Power Plant
WJ was called upon to offer groundwater control solutions to the dewatering of a large seawater intake structure for a new power station in Batangas, south of Manila. Working with the contractor, First Balfour, a hybrid sumping/deep well strategy was employed to lower the groundwater over 20 metres in the highly permeable alluvial sands and gravels less than 50 metres from the seashore.
The future
Further contracts have been secured for infrastructure projects for wastewater and mass transit schemes in the Philippines such as Metro Manila. WJ is optimistic for profitable growth in the Philippines and recognises the value and contribution of its Filipino staff towards this success.
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