Lower supply from MWSS, says Maynilad
Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) is cutting water flow to five of its service areas for as much as 12 hours daily starting July 12, following a further reduction in the supply of raw water from the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS).
“The water interruption will be every 7 p.m. starting July 12. It is expected to be extended until 6 a.m. [the next day], but the supply should be available by as early as 4 a.m. in some parts. We just need to build up pressure so water can flow as swiftly as possible during the hours it is available,” said Maynilad vice president and head of water supply operations Ronald Padua.
This came a day after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources advised village leaders and residents of Metro Manila to reduce activities such as watering lawns and washing cars to avert massive water interruptions in the coming months.
The DENR’s Water Resources Management Office, through a bulletin, also said its team will conduct spot inspections of government office buildings for unwarranted use of water, leaks, and faulty bathroom fixtures.
The team will ensure that WRMO Bulletin Nos. 1 and 2 are posted in offices accordingly.
In a briefing Monday, Maynilad said efforts, from all corners, are underway to preserve water in Angat Dam in preparation for the effects of the El Niño phenomenon, which may be felt in the coming months.
The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) has further cut water allocation to the MWSS to 48 cubic meters per second (CMS) starting July 8, after it reduced supply twice from 52 CMS on April 16 to June 30, and 50 CMS on July 1 to 7.
At 48 CMS, Maynilad will get less supply than it needs to sustain normal service operations. Spreading out the limited supply will necessitate daily service interruptions in some portions of the West Zone, which includes the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Manila, Navotas, Quezon City, and Valenzuela.
The company’s supply augmentation projects, as well as local rains at the Ipo watershed, are expected to help mitigate the impact of lower releases from Angat Dam.
Affected customers are advised to keep in mind the interruption schedule, and to store water once it becomes available during the daytime. Mobile water tankers will be deployed as needed.
The water company warned users to expect some water discoloration once supply resumes during the day as this is a normal consequence of service interruptions. Maynilad explained that the returning supply scours the naturally occurring mineral deposits inside the pipelines.
Maynilad advises users to allow the water to flow out briefly until it clears but use the initial flow of water for non-drinking purposes, such as for flushing toilets, to avoid wastage.
The company said it continues to coordinate closely with all Angat Dam stakeholders in balancing the need between preserving the limited supply and managing the impact of lower allocations on water consumers. It is also facilitating other supply augmentation projects so that more supply can be generated.
Meanwhile, water usage of Metro Manila establishments may be regulated at the discretion of local government units.
Metro Manila Council chairman and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said local chief executives have the autonomy to decide on the matter, saying not all cities in the National Capital Region have establishments that need large amounts of water.
“Based on our discussion, it will now depend on each LGU because the demographics of our cities are not the same,” Zamora told a TV interview, adding that the cities can pass their own ordinances.
Talk of water usage regulation came after the MWSS appealed to business establishments and those consuming massive volumes of water to conserve and limit their usage.
“This is something that we discussed as a Metro Manila Council and I am optimistic that all Metro Manila LGUs will adopt the same policy so that we can use collected rainwater. This can be used to wash cars, clean the toilets, or water plants,” Zamora said in a mix of English and Filipino.
State weather bureau officials said at least 30 provinces may experience a dry spell while at least two provinces may suffer from drought due to the El Niño phenomenon.
PAGASA climate monitoring chief Ana Solis said the possibility of El Niño is high. She said rainfall is expected to decrease in September and drop further from October to December this year.
Aside from Metro Manila, the areas that may also experience dry spell are as follows: Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Apayao, Mountain Province, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal, Quezon, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Palawan, Spratly Islands, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes in Luzon;
Antique, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Leyte in the Visayas will also be affected.
Zamora urged fellow local officials to “conserve and recycle water as much as possible, and implement a rainwater catchment system to collect rainwater that could be used for other purposes.”
In May, the Metro Manila Disaster Risk Response and Management and Management Council (MMDRRMC) and mayors in Metro Manila convened to discuss contingency measures in preparation for the El Niño phenomenon.
The 17 local governments also formed their respective task forces to formulate preparations and contingency measures to mitigate the effects of El Niño on their respective cities.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to address the water shortage and El Niño as he warned of their adverse effects on various sectors of the economy.
He said the President should focus on these pressing issues and not just Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) in his upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 24.
He emphasized the urgent need to address the water crisis and mitigate the impact of El Niño, particularly on agricultural productivity and farmers, the most vulnerable to the weather phenomenon.
He recalled droughts and water crises have taken a significant toll on the economy, business, agriculture, power generation, public health, and natural resources.
Citing a study by Columbia University, Pimentel said that the El Niño event of 1997/98 left 70 percent of the country experiencing devastating drought conditions.
Pimentel cited the statement by the Union Bank of the Philippines, Inc. Chief Economist Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion that a strong El Niño event could lead to national GDP losses of up to $3.3 billion.
“These staggering economic implications highlight the importance of proactive and preventive measures to mitigate the impact of the water crisis and El Niño,” he said.
The Palace said the Water Resources Management Office (WRMO) will issue this week its recommendations to address the effects of the El Niño phenomenon, but provided no specifics.
“We will have a plan for the mitigation of the effects of El Niño this week. I just spoke to the Secretary of DENR this morning and she has told me that she will be prepared to make public what needs to be done,” President Marcos said during a meeting in Malacanang on government measures to mitigate the impact of the dry spell.
The President said former Public Works and Highways secretary Rogelio Singson will also assist the government in addressing the problem.
Singson, a water management expert, will help the government in coming up with a contingency plan for El Niño and in crafting an overall plan for the Philippines, the President said.
MAYNILAD WATER INTERRUPTION
LIST OF AFFECTED AREAS
Caloocan City
7 p.m. to 4 a.m., daily
1-20, 21 (A. Mabini Ave., 4th Ave., PNR Rail Road, M. Francisco St.), 22, 24, 27-28, 31, 31 (J.P. Rizal St., Tambakan St., Sawata Area 1), 49, 52-57, 93 (10th Ave., 11th Ave., 9th St., 11th St.), 97-98, 101 (10th Ave., 9th St., 8th Ave., Ilang-Ilang St.), 102-116, 121-131, 148-149, 152-155, 161 (West side of NLEX), 167-168 (Deparo-Bagumbong, Kabatuhan), 169 (Dolmar), 171 (Deparo-Bagumbong, Evergreen, Parkview, Sampaloc, Solar, Villa Luisa), 174 (Bellefonte), 177 (Almar, Castle Spring, Del Rey, Lillesville, Matrix), 178-180, 182-188
7 p.m to 6 a.m., daily
168 (Casimiro, Congressional-Rainbow, Deparo-T. Samson, Esperanza, Natividad, PLC, Rainbow, Sitio Mapalad, Susano-Iglesia, T Samson, Tomas), 169 (BF Homes, Diamante, T. Samson), 170 (Amparo Novaville, SM Homes), 171 (Bankers, Congressional-Rainbow, Kingstown, Rainbow, Senate, Union), 172 (Magdalena, Urduja), 173 (Congressional-Rainbow, Hillcrest, Magdalena, Union), 174 (Coaster, La Forteza, Opel, Pag-asa Homesite, Pag-asa Subd., Thunderbird), 175 (Barugo, Brixtonville, Congressional-Model, Franville, La Forteza, Leyland, Opel), 176 (Phase 4, 9 and 10, Bagong Silang), 177 (Area D, Capitol Parkland, Calamansian, Leticia, Sto. Nino-Maligaya)
Malabon City
7 p.m. to 4 a.m., daily
Acacia, Baritan, Bayan-Bayanan, Catmon, Concepcion, Flores, Longos, Muzon, Niugan, Portrero, San Agustin, Tinajeros, Tonsuya, Tugatog
7 p.m to 6 a.m., daily
Dampalit, Hulong Duhat, Tañong
Manila
Tondo, Manila
7 p.m. to 4 a.m., daily
1 to 10, 18, 20, 48 to 66, 68 to 71, 74 to 76, 78, 81, 119 to 121, 124 to 153, 155, 160, 168 to 172, 177 to 186, 198 to 267 and 202-A
San Nicolas, Manila
7 p.m. to 4 a.m., daily
281 to 286
Binondo, Manila
7 p.m. to 4 a.m., daily
287 to 289, 291 to 296
Sta, Cruz, Manila
7 p.m. to 4 a.m., daily
297 to 305, 310 to 325, 329, 330, 335 to 382
Quiapo, Manila
7 p.m. to 4 a.m., daily
306 to 309, 383, 384, 388, 390 to 394
Sampaloc, Manila
7 p.m. to 4 a.m., daily
395 to 450, 452 to 520, 570, 571, 576, 626 to 636
San Miguel, Manila
7 p.m. to 4 a.m., daily
638 to 648
Port Area, Manila
7 p.m. to 4 a.m., daily
649 to 653
Intramuros, Manila
7 p.m. to 4 a.m., daily
654 to 658
Ermita, Manila
7 p.m. to 4 a.m., daily
659, 659-A, 660-A, 661 to 670
Paco, Manila
7 p.m. to 4 a.m., daily
664-A, 671, 672, 674, 676, 696 to 701, 726 to 733, 745 to 762, 769, 803, 807
Navotas City
7 p.m. to 4 a.m., daily
Bagumbayan North, Bagumbayan South, Bangkulasi, Daanghari, Navotas East, Navotas West, North Bay Boulevard North, NBBS Dagat-Dagatan, NBBS, Kaunlaran, NBBS Proper, San Jose, San Rafael, San Roque, Sipac-Almacen, Tangos North and South, Tanza 1 & 2
Quezon City
7 p.m. to 4 a.m., daily
Apolonio Samson, Bagbag (Rockville 2 Subd.), Balingasa, Capri, Commonwealth, Dona Josefa Marcos, Greater Fairview, Greater Lagro, Gulod, Holy Spirit, Lourdes, Maharlika, Manresa, Masambong, Novaliches Proper, Pag-ibig Sa Nayon, Pasong Putik (North Ventures Commercial Corp.), St. Peter, Salvacion
San Agustin (Dona Rosario, Gen. Luis, Millionaires Subd – Susano/Gen. Luisa area, Quirino Highway-Dumalay, Susano, St. Luke’s School, TS Cruz Subd., FB de Jesus, Greenfields 1), San Bartolome (ABC Development Corp., Bernardo, Good Haven, PLDT, Quirino Highway, Rolling Meadows 1, SM Prime Holdings, St. Francis Subd., Susana) San Isidro Labrado, San Jose, Sangandaan, Santa Teresita, Sto. Domingo, Sauyo, Siena, Sta. Lucia, Sta. Monica, Talayan, Tatalon
7 p.m. to 5 a.m., daily
Bagong Silangan, Batasan Hills (Bagong Silangan Elem School, Bagong Silangan Health Center, Bagong Silangan High School and Multi-Purpose Hall, JP Rizal – Left and Right Side), Commonwealth (Damside, Motorola, Nokia)
Payatas (Bistekville 1 Multipurpose Hall, BJMP Quezon City Jail, Doña Nicasia Dialysis Health Center, DSWD-Dormitory, Legaspi, MSSD Natl. Govt Center, Majaas, Molave, Molave Youth Home (Bahay Pag-Asa), Payatas B Annex Elementary School, Payatas B Elementary School, Payatas Elementary School, Payatas High School, Payatas Super Health Center, Quezon City Drug Treatment And Rehabilitation Center, Quezon City Public Library Payatas Branch, San Juan Bautista, San Miguel Social Development Center, Villa Gracia, Violago Parkwoods, Visayas)
7 p.m. to 6 a.m., daily
Bagbag (King William, Mindanao Ave., Odelco Subd., Quirino Highway, San Pedro 9 Subd. Sauyo Road), Batasan Hills (Adams, Batasang Pambansa, COA Region IV office, Congressional, Creek, House of Representatives- Annex, IBP Road, Pratt, Pres. Corazon C. Aquino Elem School, Sitio Kaliwa, The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints)
Commonwealth (Birds International Inc., Commonwealth Elementary School and Annex, Commonwealth Health Center, Commonwealth High School, DMMA, IBP Road, Kapalaran, Kaunlaran, Manuel L Quezon Elementary School, NGC Health Center, PUP Commonwealth Campus, Starbright Land Realty Corp., Task Force Commo, Waterhole)
Kaligayahan, Nagkaisang-Nayon (East Los Angeles, East Berkeley, P. Dela Cruz, Goodwill Homes 1, Odelco Subd.), Pasong Putik (Arctic Zone Tube Ice Corp., Catleya, Champaca, Maligaya Subd., Kaligayahan Health Ctr, Maligaya, Maligaya Elementary School, Maligaya Health Center/Marciano, Pamahay Dr., SM Prime Holding, SMC Mass Rail Transit 7, Inc., Zabarte Subd)
Payatas (DSWD, DSWD-CO (NHTO), DSWD- KALAHI, Everlasting St., IBP Road, Litex Road, Lupang Pangako Elementary School, Lupang Pangako Payatas B Health Center, Lupang Pangako Ph-3 Clemente St, Payatas A Elementary School, Payatas A Health Center, Sampaguita)
San Agustin (Greenfields III and Jordan), San Bartolome (Along P. dela Cruz from ACF Subd. to Magsaysay Ave., Metrogreen Subd., Parokya ng Pagkabuhay, Quirino Highway, Diamond St., Greenheights Subd., ACF, Rainbow Homes 1 Subd., Simforosa St.), Talipapa
Valenzuela City
7 p.m. to 4 a.m., daily
Arkong Bato, Balangkas, Bisig, Coloong, Dalandanan, Gen. T. De Leon, Isla, Karuhatan, Mabolo, Malanday, Malinta, Marulas, Maysan, Palasan, Parada, Pariancillo Villa, Paso de Blas, Pasolo, Poblacion, Polo, Rincon, Tagalag, VienteReales, Wawang Pulo