Water crisis in 2006 if MWSS fails to remedy the problem

A looming water shortage is expected to hit the metropolis and environs if the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) will fail to keep its contractual obligation to the water concessionaires.

This, as one of the two water concessionaries, Maynilad Water Services Inc. (Maynilad), admitted that it is currently unable to meet the water demands in the South, which included Las Piñas, Parañaque, Muntinlupa, and certain areas in Cavite, due to the continuous increase of population.

"The MWSS has promised to us, both Maynilad and Manila Waters Co., some 300 million liters per day (MLD), as its contractual obligation. Actually, this promise could have been given sometime in January 2000 but until now there’s still none," Allan Geronilla of Maynilad told The STAR.

Geronilla said that if the MWSS will further fail to fulfill its contractual obligation, a water crisis few years from now will be highly possible.

As a measure, the MWSS has sought the assistance of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the development of a 400 MLD Bulk Water Reservoir eyeing the Laguna Lake as the source. This is in lieu of previous plans of the MWSS to overcome the water shortage through the Laiban Dam project, which were deferred pending amenable settlements with the families around the development site, and the Agos Multi-Purpose Water Resource, which will take 10 to 15 years.

The 400 MLD water reservoir is expected to be settled and completed sooner than the two dams, with only about three and a half years to finish, just in time for the forecast water crisis by 2006.

Meantime, a study conducted by the MWSS said the Angat Dam will be incapable of meeting the demand of the increasing population in four years time. Through the assistance of The Netherlands government, LLDA and DENR is proposing the Polder Island Development Plan in Laguna Lake that will include the 400 MLD water reservoir. It is expected to provide water to more than 500,000 households.

"Some one and half years is needed for a more comprehensive and detailed feasibility study of the reservoir development, and a minimum of two years for the construction of the polder, for it to be operational by 2006," said Dolora Nepomuceno, of the LLDA.

The proposed four polder islands, with a total land area of 3,000 hectares, will be developed off the waters of Taguig, Muntinlupa, San Pedro and Biñan. The reservoir will cover 800 hectares and will be connected to a drinking water treatment plant. The water source shall be Laguna de Bay.

"This can serve as a temporary source until the Agos project is in place," Nepomuceno said.