Will our kids have enough to drink?

We take water for granted. We have quite a bit of it most of the time. Our faucets may sometimes run dry but that’s not because we don’t have enough water. We just have a distribution system whose efficiency is still work in progress. It was worse before privatization of the MWSS but it could still be better today.

Because Metro Manila’s population of over 10 million is growing fast, providing for the water needs of this multitude is going to be a nightmare. Government through MWSS should have started working yesterday but MWSS officials in the past were too busy collecting outrageous bonuses to have time to do their jobs.

We are probably wasting over 90 percent of our water resources today due to lack of infrastructure and pollution. That will have to change fast, if we know what’s good for us.

In mega cities that do not have our abundant water resources, they use technology and infrastructure to conserve what they have. They even have a system of collecting rain water from all over  Singapore  so they can process that as raw water for their system. While we don’t have to go that far yet, we do have to show a little more appreciation of this God-given gift.

Last Thursday, the United Nations led the world in marking World Water Day. Even if the water in our oceans covers much of the planet, the world is fast approaching the critical level of its fresh water supply. US State Secretary Hillary Clinton warned that access to water supply will be an important security concern in the future. Wars can spark over this life giving resource.

In the  US, there is this never ending battle for the water of the Colorado River among a number of western states including the very thirsty  California . And within  California , there is this battle between the farms and the big cities over water rights.

Here in the  Philippines , we have abused our water resources. We have pumped out our ground water so much and so fast that the water table has receded significantly. Of course, massive deforestation means we get killer floods or too much water some of the times and a severe shortage in other times.

We have also polluted our rivers and lakes to the point that it now takes expensive cleansing through desalination to make water from these sources safe to drink. That’s how Parañaque and Muntinlupa are getting their water from polluted Laguna de Bay, cleaning it through reverse osmosis.

When government decided to privatize the distribution of drinking water in the early 90s, government retained the job of making sure we always have a water source for an expanding metro population. Sadly, very little was done by government to reduce our almost total dependence on Angat dam. Even the planning side was neglected.

As I reported last Friday in this column, I was told that things have changed. If MWSS Administrator Gerry Esquivel is to be believed, they are finally doing something to secure the long-term water supply of Metro Manila.

Gerry explained that they have a program that includes the following: Structurally securing Angat Dam; maximization of Angat reservoir and all rivers flowing into it by reviewing protocol for its use and ensuring efficiencies of tunnels and water pipelines; development of a long term, redundancy water source to Angat Dam; development of short term sources in two back-up areas to fill in short term needs and provide buffer water for security.

For the first time since Angat Dam started operation in 1968, the dam is getting fixed. What will be done is deemed the most critical and urgent among MWSS projects.  A technical report has confirmed that the main dam and dike require structural reinforcement to withstand earthquakes of magnitudes seen in the recent levels of  Japan ’s.

This project will involve widening the embankment of the main dam and dike to secure the integrity of Metro Manila’s only water source. Gerry said they will also increase water storage by optimizing the operating rule curve, and the construction of a second spillway. 

The estimated total project cost is budgeted at P5.7 billion. Bidding is targeted for July 2012, immediately following NEDA ICC approval.

MWSS also wants to takeover control of the whole Angat from NPC/PSALM to assure domestic supply from the entire Angat water supply chain – from watershed management, dam operation, and strictest compliance to agreed Water Release Protocols. MWSS believes that “control” of its ONLY source of domestic water is non-negotiable for Metro Manila’s water security.

MWSS is also leading a multi-sectoral team of government agencies, LGUs and NGOs to develop a comprehensive plan for the protection of the watersheds. The plan calls for preserving and where needed the replanting of the Umiray, Ipo,  La Mesa , and Marikina watersheds as well as the Angat watershed.

MWSS has already reforested 110 hectares in 2010, 450 hectares in 2011, and is targeting 900 hectares in 2012. Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, principal author of the Writ of Kalikasan agreed to be MWSS’ Head Counsel for Task Force 5 Watersheds.

As part of the second strategy, the Rehabilitation of Angat waterways focuses on maximizing water flows from Umiray River in General Nakar in Quezon. Effort will also be made to ensure replacement of irrigation water for NIA which should free up more water for domestic use.

The twin projects of the Angat-Umiray transbasin and Sumag Diversion projects will improve utilization of the 30 cubic meters per second (cms) capacity tunnel in Umiray which was built in 2000 to increase water flow into Angat. The Angat- Umiray  transbasin was damaged in 2004 by typhoon Winnie. Its rehabilitation will help improve water flow from about 11 cms to 17 cms, or about 950MLD to 1470MLD into Angat. The project which has an estimated cost of P456 million will be ready for bid out for detailed engineering designs by June 2012.

Sumag River Diversion Project involves the tapping of the Sumag River also in General Nakar, Quezon will allow an additional 188 million liters of water per day flowing via the same Angat transbasin tunnel. The project which will cost P562 million, is scheduled for completion by end of 2013.

MWSS also has three aqueduct projects costing a total of P5.3 billion that are under construction. The new aqueduct No. 6 (Phase 2) spanning 9.9 km from San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan to La Mesa Dam in Quezon City, its interconnection to the five existing aqueducts, and the rehabilitation of aqueduct No. 5. 

The rehabilitation of raw water tunnels or aqueducts is essential to water security because it will lessen if not totally stop a major loss of 350 million liters per day that is leaking before it reaches the water treatment plant. This project is originally scheduled for May 2013 completion, but is well within the fast track schedule of targeted commissioning by end July of 2012.

The development of the redundant water source (Centennial Source), or the third component of the strategy, aims to cut the 100 percent dependence on Angat. The focus is on the highly strategic Rizal-Quezon area. This area is complementary to Angat Dam in terms of rainfall patterns and other hydrological attributes and is thus a secure alternative source. It will likewise help optimize water distribution costs for the public due to the proximity to the developing east side of the Metro Manila market. 

The project is currently with the PPP center for detailed full-blown feasibility study, a requirement for NEDA ICC approval. The target for publishing and advertisement for this site specific water source is end October at the latest.

This project will require substantial investment and funding in 3 phases, with early estimates running at a minimum of $500 million for the first phase. Funding options are being studied with a sensitivity to what the consumer will finally have to pay in terms of water rate.

Well, it seems that Gerry and his MWSS team is very conscious of the need to get their projects going and delivered at the shortest possible time. Hopefully, they fare better than DOTC on these needed infrastructure projects. Otherwise, our children and grandchildren may end up not having much to drink in an uncertain future.

Sex life

 Our news editor, Ichu Villanueva, texted me this one.

Doctor: You have a serious heart murmur. Do you smoke or drink?

Patient: No

Doctor: Sex life?

Patient: I do.

Doctor: Better give up half of your sex life.

Patient: Which half, thinking or looking?

Boo Chanco’s e-mail  address is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @boochanco