Water Resilience at Scale: SM’s Conservation Efforts in a Changing Climate

 

SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime) has advanced resource stewardship through water circularity initiatives, implementing water conservation measures across its nationwide network of SM Supermalls since the late 1990s.

Embedded in its operations, SM Malls uses innovative water management systems that save water and reduce wastage - drawing less from the national water grid and creating value in an increasingly volatile time.

Macro to Micro: SM’s approach to water conservation

 Against the looming possibility of an extended drought caused by El Niño, saving every drop of water finds greater importance for SM Supermalls. Designed with sustainability in mind, SM Malls use innovative water management systems that not only promote saving water from wastage but also significantly reduce consumption. This helps lessen the use of fresh water resources from national water systems and leave more water for its surrounding communities to use.

 SM ensures sustainable water use through advanced recycling and rainwater harvesting systems. In 2025, sewage treatment plants in its 89 malls recycle an estimated 6.6 million cubic meters of property wastewater for non-potable use. The rainwater treatment facility in SM Baguio innovatively harvests and treats rainwater collected during the wet season and transforms it into water for kitchen and tenant use.

As a key customer touchpoint in water management, faucets also regulate the outflow of water for every use. SM’s investments in "push delay" faucets create sustainable operations to strengthen water conservation. These faucets save water by preventing it from being left running by restricting water flow through a certain window of time.

Technology then paved the way for enhanced conservation, and SM started using no-touch, sensor type faucets in 2015, far before the sanitary restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sensor type faucets help save water by automatically shutting outflow of water once the sensor does not detect a user. Additionally, these types of faucets typically require less water pressure, which also reduces water waste. Significant investments in systems such as sensor faucets also reduce wear and tear on fixtures and equipment, resulting in long-term savings and improved water conservation.

With its implementation, SM saw a 59% reduction in water waste, translating to saving the equivalent of a 1.5-liter bottle of water per user using the faucet over just 7 seconds.

By equipping its most-loved malls with water-efficient fixtures enhanced with technology, SM is protecting resources critical not just to its operations but to its surrounding communities. Under the guidance of the Water for Tomorrow pillar of the SM Green Movement, SM champions sustainable water use, reducing environmental impact and securing access to water for generations to come.

The Water Stewardship Journey Continues for SM Supermalls

For three decades, SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SM Prime) has steadfastly advanced responsible water stewardship for a more resilient water future through SM Supermalls, its operating arm.

SM Prime invested in its first Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in the late 90’s with SM Southmall. STPs are essential for protecting public health and the environment, along with supporting community development. Since then, STPs have become a standard fixture in all 89 malls, reducing water waste and pollution, and safeguarding water resources.

SM Supermalls embeds water conservation practices across its operations. Recycled water is used in water closets for flushing, cleaning, and watering greens. Additionally, efficient low-flow fixtures and water-saving technologies prevent unnecessary consumption at scale.

"SM had always been conscious of its environmental impact on shared social good. Our water journey is rooted in our commitment to maximize what we borrow from the environment, creating resiliency for future generations,” said Liza B. Silerio, SM Supermalls Vice President and Head of Sustainability and Resilience.

 

Today, SM is evaluating centralized STPs that can serve multiple developments and allow for inter-building treatment systems, lowering operational costs, and enhancing process efficiency. "Part of our water resilience framework is building long-term capacity for water disruptions. Since the standardization of STPs across our malls, SM took it a step further and scaled its water sustainability efforts," said Silerio.

A first in the industry, SM City Baguio's Rainwater Treatment Facility has already processed almost 20,000 cubic meters of rainwater into potable water since it was launched, providing 30% of the mall’s total monthly clean water requirement since 2023. This translates to saving the equivalent of 12.7 million, 1.5-liter mineral water bottles or almost eight Olympic-sized swimming pools of freshwater from the grid.

Leveraging the mall’s nationwide reach, SM further campaigns sustainable water use through consistent awareness and engagement, SM creates public awareness and education campaigns through its Corporate Social Responsibility arm, SM Cares to activate future water stewards in the community.

 

This proactive and efficient approach resulted in SM malls receiving multiple industry distinctions such as the Bantayog ng Lawa Award from the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) and the first ever Gawad Taga-Ilog Award bestowed upon a private entity by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

"We’ve come a long way since the 90’s. It’s heartwarming to be recognized by our community and peers, but we continue to work harder for future generations because water is a universal human right. By implementing these sustainability measures, SM aims to move forward with greater purpose and greater possibilities," said Silerio.