Having been given bigger allocation by the National Water Regulatory Board (NWRB, the aMaynilad Water Services, Inc. said consumers in its west zone franchise area can expect less water interruptions during this summer.
However, the same could not be said for an estimated 79,000 residents of Bacoor, Kawit, Noveleta, and Rosario in Cavite provinces who may experience frequent water service cut offs.
The NWRB has agreed to increase the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System’s (MWSS) raw water allocation from Angat-Ipo reservoirs to 52 million liters per day (MLD) from 50 MLD starting last Sunday and may extend it up the May.
“There was a clear directive from the NWRB that we will suspend the water interruption because of additional allocation that will be devoted to Maynilad. We are also gearing up our preparations in case there will El Niño as predicted by PAGASA by July or August this year, the impact of which will be later this year or early next year,” said MWSS administrator Leonor Cleofas.
The NWRB earlier predicted massive water shortage next year if the El Niño phenomenon would longer than expected.
The MWSS, along with the two water concessionaires, Maynilad and Manila Water Co., have prepared short to medium water contingency plans such as the portable water treatment package plants in Marikina and Cavite which will be ready by end-April.
The Marikina plant, however, has been commissioned and supplies about 15 million liters of water per day.
The NWRB has also approved the use ground water from existing deep wells, in case a need will arise to utilize the deep wells.
Cleofas said the MWSS appreciated efforts of Manila Water to help Maynilad by opening the cross boundary interconnection points to supply treated water to Maynilad service areas affected by water interruptions.
Maynilad reported that its water supply has stabilized since the NWRB approved the release of additional two million MLD that started flowing last Sunday.
“This higher allocation will definitely improve the volume of water reaching the portal and allowing Manila to increase its production as well as improve the levels of Ipo (dam) and La Mesa (Dam). We’re also monitoring La Mesa Portal which will be the basis of our 60:40 sharing with Manila Water. Once that is stabilized we expect the suspension of our set a, set b interruption which we announced end of March,” said Maynilad president Ramoncito Fernandez.
He added that Maynilad has no definite timetable when the suspension of water interruption will commence, “but we will definitely try to advise within 24 hours and we are hoping it will start within the week as we are also monitoring La Mesa portal which is now at 46 cubic meter per second (cms).”
Turbidity improvement at the Laguna Lake has also increase water allocated for treatment at the Putatan treatment plants 1 and 2 to 280 combined volume which will address water shortage in Cavite.
