Manila Water trying to 'achieve predictability' of water interruption schedule
MANILA, Philippines — Following complaints of inaccurate schedules in water service interruption, Ayala-led Manila Water vowed to "achieve predictability" on their schedules.
Last week, the water service provider announced that it would be implementing operational adjustments in the east concession zone.
Several cities in Metro Manila and areas in Rizal province experience "low pressure to no water" supply during peak demand hours.
However, even areas not included in the list of areas that would experience interrupted water services were affected.
Manila Water COO Geodino Carpio explained that when customers, including those in non-affected areas, saved water after the announcement, the water level in their reservoirs were also depleted.
"Maraming nagalit na customers and I understand completely na nagalit sila sa amin dahil nawalan sila ng tubig eh wala naman sila sa listahan," Carpio said in a televised press conference.
(Many consumers got angry, and I understand completely that they got angry at us because they didn't have water even if they weren't on the list)
The water concessionaire is now trying to address this issue by making their reservoirs recover to attain normalcy in distribution of water supply.
"Sa gabi tataas nang konti ang reservoir pero hindi pa 'yan napupuno. So we are looking at a solution today na perhaps we will force a very low pressure area para lang mapuno ang reservoir," the Manila Water executive said.
(At night, the reservoir rises a little but it doesn't get filled. So we are looking at a solution today that perhaps we will force a very low pressure area just to give the reservoir time to get filled.)
Carpio also admitted that the predictability of water service interruption is quite difficult to achieve at the moment.
"That's hard to tell... So far nung huli kami nag-ikot medyo tumatama ang aming prediction kung kailan magkakatubig. 'Yung kailan mawawala minsan mapapaaga so we are trying our best to achieve predictability and I understand that's very, very important to customers," Carpio said.
(That's hard to tell... So far, the last time we went around, we had accurate predictions on when supply would be interrupted. Sometimes there is no water ahead of when we predicted, so we are trying our best to achieve predictability and I understand that's very, very important to customers.)
Meanwhile, west zone concessionaire Maynilad said it will share additional supply to Manila Water to ease the water shortage in Metro Manila and nearby areas.
Maynilad is set to hold a cross-border flow or water sharing of 50 million liters per day to Manila Water starting April.
Manila Water is hopeful that an agreement with Maynilad on water sharing would be settled within the week.
"It's a technical discussion at this point. We are looking for the optimal point where we can have a cross-water flow that will not impact our withdrawal from Angat (Dam) that much," Carpio said. — Patricia Lourdes Viray
An environmental watch group advises the public to conserve water all the more as parts of the country grapple with the effects of drought brought by the onset of El Niño.
In a statement, the EcoWaste Coalition calls on Metro Manila households to take water conservation more seriously while also calling on establishments to intensify water conservation measures.
“We join our water authorities in asking household, businesses and government institutions in Metro Manila to use water more wisely amid the declining water level in Angat, Ipo and La Mesa Dams,” Aileen Lucero, EcoWaste national coordinator, says.
She adds: “Let us all aim for zero water waste to reduce the impacts of low water supply during the summer months to the people, especially the poor, and the environment.”
The water level in La Mesa Dam is now below critical level at 68.93 meters due to the summer season and the El Niño phenomenon.
Maynilad customers in Caloocan, Malabon and Quezon will experience low pressure to no water starting 1 p.m. today, June 27.
The emergency water service interruption is expected to last till 9 p.m.
"We apologize for the inconvenience. Thank you," Maynilad says in a tweet.
Manila Water is now operating an additional 34 deep wells in its concession area to help meet the demand of customers while the new water sources are being completed.
As of June 9, 2019, 43.42 million liters of water per day have been drawn from these deep wells and is seen to bring more water supply upon full operation of more deep wells in the coming months.
"The operation of these deep wells is vital to recovering our service towards 24/7 supply at 7 psi or pressure up to the ground level as one of the means of augmenting the water supply deficit," Manila Water Corporate Strategic Affairs Group Head Jeric Sevilla says.
Manila Water President Ferdinand dela Cruz says in a statement that he will abide by the decision of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System to pay a financial penalty upon over its momentary inability to meet its service obligations to provide round-the-clock water supply to consumers.
The MWSS board has sanctioned Manila Water Company Inc. with a total of P1.134 billion fine and an additional P600 million fund for development of a new water supply source following the water shortage last month that affected parts of Metro Manila and neighboring towns.
The imposition of penalties on Manila Water was due to its failure to comply with Article 10.4 of the concession agreement or the 24-hour available supply in its service areas.
The MWSS Board sanctions Ayala-led Manila Water with P1.15 billion in fines following the supply mess last month.
— The STAR/Maureen Simeon
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