Busted pipe renders big Metro area waterless

At least 10 cities and municipalities in Metro Manila experienced water disruptions yesterday due to a busted valve at the corner of Tandang Sora and Quirino Hi-way, in Quezon City.

A big part of the Maynilad Water Services Inc.'s West Zone concession area will be without water until around midnight today due to the busted butterfly valve of the 3,000-mm water main from La Mesa water Treatment Plants I and II.

Officials explained that a break occurred in the main water main, followed by another at Victoria Street corner Science Street at Victoria Subdivision, Quezon City and one at Roosevelt Avenue near Muñoz.

Treatment plants I and II serve the entire West Zone concession area, hence, the disruption of water services to Caloocan City, Novaliches, Quezon City, Navotas, Malabon, Tondo, Pasay, Parañaque, Valenzuela City and as far off as Cavite City.

Also affected are San Andres and Santa Ana in Manila; Pio del Pilar, San Antonio Village, La Paz and Kayamanan C, all in Makati, which are now experiencing low water pressure.

According to Irene Gonzales, manager of Maynilad's Water Network, workers are conducting emergency repair work.

Water services are expected to be restored after 36 hours. All repair works on the broken valve were expected to be done by yesterday afternoon.

Gonzales said Maynilad customers affected by the water service interruption will be serviced by mobile water tankers. They may call the Maynilad Hotline 1626, for the schedule of the deployment of the water tankers.

Meanwhile, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza ordered the setting up of a temporary water distribution system to help ease the water shortage in Manila.

Manila City Administrator Ernesto Dionisio and Director Maximo Lacson of the Manila Barangay Bureau have been tasked by Atienza to coordinate with Maynilad Water, Inc. in setting up water stations all over the city.

The city government's six water tankers will be deployed in watering stations in Manila and will be augmented by firetrucks of the Manila Fire District and the Chinese Volunteer Fire Brigade.

City officials and representatives of the Maynilad Water, Inc. are now meeting to identify where watering stations will be located.

Manila residents can call up the Manila Barangay Bureau at telephone nos. 528-0637, 528-0646 and 528-0639 for inquiries regarding the location of the watering stations. --