The tankers will make daily rounds in affected barangays and subdivisions in the West Zone. This is in addition to other projects aimed at delivering recovered water to under-served and unserved areas.
"This remedial measure is meant to alleviate the water shortage problem, even as Maynilad intensifies its leak repairs, disconnection of illegal connections, and replacement of old pipes and facilities. The water firm is also adjusting valves to maximize water distribution to affected areas," Maynilad said.
As water rationing starts, Maynilad appeals to customers not to obstruct the tankers to ensure the speedy, efficient and equitable distribution of water. The water tankers were assigned to specific areas and will cover all affected communities.
As of March 4, Maynilad said the average output of its La Mesa Treatment Plant has gone down by 515 million liters a day (MLD), from 2,265 MLD to 1,750 MLD.
The water level at the Angat Dam also fell to 187.49 meters as of 2 p.m. last Friday from 189.16 at around noon last Monday. The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) said Angat’s water level is decreasing at a fast rate of one meter every three days.
The continuous decrease of water level has resulted in the reduction of water supply in Metro Manila, especially in elevated areas.
Under the West Zone concession, areas affected include portions of Quezon City, Caloocan City, Valenzuela City, Malabon, Navotas, Manila, Parañaque City, Makati City, Las Piñas City and Cavite.
The water level in Angat is projected to breach the 180-meter critical level by the end of this month. At this level, it could longer supply irrigation water to farms in Bulacan and Pampanga.
The dam also provides the water supply requirements of Metro Manila.
The NWRB said the declining level of water at the Angat Dam is caused by the below normal rainfall condition in the vicinity of the dam’s watershed due to the current El Niño phenomenon, the continued obstruction of logs and boulders, and the destroyed water regulating structures at the Umiray Tunnel that was caused by the series of storms that hit the country’s eastern part of Quezon province last December.