The Novaliches-Balara Aqueduct 4 (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). The largest and most important infrastructure projects undertaken by Manila Water 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, an outlet facility and a distribution network system integrating the new system to the Balara Water Treatment Plant. A Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) was used to build the aqueduct – a first time in the Philippines a TBM was used in an urban setting. Once completed and commissioned, the new aqueduct will be capable of delivering 1,000 MLD (1 million cu.m/day) to the treatment plants ensuring the reliability and security of its raw water transmission system to Metro Manila.