MWSS exec denies deliberately closing bypass valve serving Manila Water, Maynilad

MANILA, Philippines — An official of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Regulatory Office denied on Friday that the bypass valve regulating the water flow shared by Maynilad and Manila Water was deliberately closed.

“For the record, the bypass is open… If it is closed, Manila Water would not have water at all,” MWSS Chief Regulator Patrick Ty said in a press conference.

“The bypass has never been closed. I never ordered the closure,” Ty added.

Ty issued the denial after a netizen who claims to be a former employee of the MWSS said that opening the bypass will solve the current water shortage now affecting Manila Water customers.

“Open the bypass and the problem will be solved. The problem started when you ordered the closure of the bypass at la mesa,” the netizen commented on Ty’s Facebook post.

Ty, in response, replied to the netizen’s comment and said: “I think you are misinformed, I didn’t order any closure.”

“People are accusing me to open the bypass. There was even an accusation that I ordered the closure of the bypass. I never ordered the closure of the bypass,” Ty said.

“I made sure that they bypass is actually open to make sure Manila Water would be getting its 1,600 mld [million liters per day],” he added.

Ty explained that the bypass valve splits the 4,000 million mld from the reservoir between Manila Water and Maynilad Water Services Inc. Manila Water gets 1,600 mld while Maynilad gets 2,400 mld.

He explained that the capacity is capped at this amount “because the existing infrustracture can only accommodate 4,000 mld.”  /muf