by Aerol John Pateña/PNA
Maynilad Water Services Inc. assured its customers that no water interruptions await them amid the current water shortage in other parts of Metro Manila and surrounding areas.
“Maynilad is not substantially affected by the water shortage. By and large, the West Zone is protected by the water shortage and is unlikely to have water interruptions,” Maynilad Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said in an interview with reporters late Tuesday.
Maynilad currently sources its water supply from Angat Dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan and the Putatan Water Treatment Plant in Muntinlupa City.
“That doesn’t mean that in the long run, Maynilad should not look for additional sources of bulk water because at this stage we only have two sources which are Angat, the principal source and Putatan. So I think we should find additional sources of water,” according to Pangilinan.
Maynilad has also committed to share its water supply with Manila Water to augment its dwindling reserves, which has led to a shortage within its franchise area. Manila Water’s primary water source is the La Mesa Dam, which is currently in critical level.
The water sharing would be conducted through a ‘cross-border flow’ arrangement between the two concessionaires.
Around eight to 10 million liters of water per day would be allocated by Maynilad starting on April to around 50,000 households.
Maynilad serves customers in the West Zone which include parts of Manila, Quezon City and Makati as well as the cities of Caloocan, Las Pinas, Malabon, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Pasay, Paranaque and Valenzuela in Metro Manila; and the cities of Bacoor, Cavite, Imus, Kawit, Noveleta, and Rosario in Cavite province.
Manila Water, which covers the east zone of Metro Manila and Rizal province, has advised its customers to expect more water interruptions in the following days due to limited water supply as El Niño or the prolonged dry spell, begins to take its toll on the country’s water reserves.
