Water supply now 100% available – Manila Water

WATER supply is now back to normal for customers in Metro Manila and adjacent provinces, Manila Water Co. Inc. has reported.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Ayala-held utility said all customers in the East Zone concession area were now enjoying 24/7 water supply, with at least 7 pounds per square inch pressure or reaching only the ground floor.

“We are now at 17 days running of 24-hour water availability to 100 percent of our customers. But while we have increased our efficiencies, and the technical solutions we have put in place are ensuring we are able to distribute the still-limited supply as equitably as we can, we cannot rest and let our guard down.” Manila Water Chief Operating Officer Abelardo Basilio said.

The listed firm issued the statement despite below-normal supply allocation from the National Water Resources Board (NWRB), although the agency previously announced it would increase water releases from the dam for Metro Manila now that Angat Dam has reached its normal operating level.

NWRB Director Sevillo David Jr. previously said water allocations to Metro Manila would be increased to 40 cubic meters (m3) per second from 36 m3 starting September 1.

Water supply for irrigation, which was previously suspended in May, was reinstated to 30 m3.

Normal volume allotted to the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, which was then split between the two water concessionaires, is 46 m3.

The NWRB was forced to reduce the water supply for Metro Manila when Angat breached its critical low level on June 22, prompting water concessionaires to implement scheduled water interruptions.

But Manila Water, starting from a supply deficit of 150 million liters per day (MLD) last March to nearly 350 MLD in late June, has narrowed the gap after increasing production from its Cardona Water Treatment Plant in Rizal province, the rehabilitation of existing deep wells and construction of new wells across its coverage area and the efficient reduction of its system loss or non-revenue water.

The Cardona treatment facility, which draws water from the central portion of Laguna Lake, already attained its 100MLD capacity, but is currently producing around 80 MLD.

This was consistent with the current demand of the towns in Rizal, including Cardona, Binangonan, Angono, Taytay and parts of Cainta.

Aside from that, total yield from all operational deep wells has reached more than 40 MLD.

Moreover, system loss has been reduced to about 10 percent from an average of 12 percent from late last year to early this year, partly because of pressure reduction.

But Basilio said the overall situation “remains volatile,” as the dam is struggling to reach its normal high water level of 210 meters.

“We encourage our customers to continue using water wisely and responsibly, to help ensure ample supply moving forward to the peak demand months of 2020,” he added.

Manila Water is the exclusive provider of water, sewerage and sanitation, distribution services, pipe works, and management services to residential, commercial and industrial customers in the eastern part of Metro Manila and Rizal.

Manila Water Co. Inc. first grappled with a supply crunch early this year that affected some 1.2 million households within the East Zone concession area.