A real water crisis?

In March this year, we aired the concern of many that the apparent water crisis hounding the metropolis and its environs may be real. We wondered if the panic which ensued after many Metro Manila households woke up one morning to find their faucets dry had a serious basis. We had hoped that the sense of panic would disappear as soon as the rainy season sets in – just like it had always been in the past.

It appears the water crisis is real and the areas served by the two water concessionaires may have to live with the reality until the government is able to put new water sources in place.

The indication of this sad situation was the recent announcement made by the water concessionaires – Manila Water and Maynilad – that their customers will experience scheduled rotating water supply interruption. The implementation of the scheme began over a week ago and the interruptions reportedly run from four hours to ten hours.

We believe this has finally driven home the point that the serious water supply shortage is no longer imaginary. The talk about a water crisis would no longer be going away when the rains come as it has been the case in the past.

We were told that the water level at Angat Dam did not reach the required level. It looks like the amount of rain which fell in the area of Angat during the recent wet season was not enough to fill the dam. The question is, even if Angat Dam’s water level reached the optimum, would the supply last given the huge population which depends on a single water source?

Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) chief regulator Patrick Ty has explained the situation earlier. When the crisis hit us last March, Mr. Ty pointed out that “if we do not get a new water source soon, there will be a water shortage.”

“Due to the increasing population, Metro Manila’s water requirement is now 1,750 MLD,” he explained in a social media post. “Metro Manila has no new water source because of the opposition to Kaliwa Dam, Laiban Dam, etc,” he added.

We are grateful to Attorney Ty for the valuable clarification.

About two years ago, we shared in this column a water supply project which Manila Water and the Rizal Provincial Government under the leadership of Gov. Nini Ynares have put in place. This is the Rizal Province Water Supply Improvement Project (RPWSIP). The idea is to draw water from Laguna Lake; process the water at a plant which Manila Water built in Cardona, Rizal; and distribute the water to businesses and households in seven Rizal towns: Jalajala, Pililla, Cardona, Tanay, Baras, Morong and Binangonan.

We shared the view that if more water can be drawn from Laguna Lake and more plants can be built to process that water for household and industrial use, the other Rizal towns and Antipolo City will have to rely less on the water that comes all the way from Angat Dam.

Tapping the water of Laguna Lake will also mean that Rizaleños and Antipoleños will not have to wait for the government to address the opposition to the use of Laiban and Kaliwa Dams. When the government succeeds in tapping those new water sources, Rizal and Antipolo may not have to compete for a major allocation against the other cities of Metro Manila.

The reliable supply of clean water is important to Rizal and Antipolo. This is a vital factor which has led to the rapid socio-economic growth. This is why Rizal province is now a Hall of Famer in the roster of the country’s most competitive provinces, having topped that list for several years.

The same is true for Antipolo. A reliable water supply is part of the reason why Antipolo has been cited as a preferred investment destination by the business sector.

We cannot afford to lose that competitive advantage. This is an aspiration that has been shared by and committed to by the past leadership of Manila Water, particularly Messrs. Gerry Ablaza, Ferdz dela Cruz and Ding Carpio.

We heard that Manila Water is now aggressively pursuing the project referred to as the “East Bay” initiative. We have merely heard from third party sources. We are yet to be told about the impact that laying pipes in the portions of Laguna de Bay within the territory of Rizal province may have on marine life and the environment.

There is a new leadership now at Manila Water. We are yet to hear from the new leadership. It looks like the new leadership may not see the value of a strong relationship with local governments as the past executives of this water concessionaire did.

As we said many times in the past, the presence of reliable, clean and environment-friendly water supply contributed to the rapid growth of the city’s population composed of so-called “Antipoleñosby-choice.”

These are families who opted to settle and build their homes in Antipolo. This is where they have opted to raise their children, and enjoy the quality of life they have always aspired for.

We have to work harder together so as not to dampen that aspiration.