Manila Water to implement up to 17 hours of service disruption

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Water is set to enforce rotational service interruptions for up to 17 hours in areas under its East Zone concession as water level in Angat Dam nears its critical mark. 

Manila Water’s announcement came after the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) said it will reduce allocation to the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) from 46 cubic meters per second (cms) to 40 cms starting Wednesday, June 19, until Friday, June 21.

NWRB’s reduced water allocation to MWSS, which allots supply to Manila Water and Maynilad, may be subject to “another adjustment” after June 21 if Angat Dam’s 160-meter level is breached by June 22.

In a statement, Manila Water said NWRB’s water allocation cutback to MWSS “will affect water supply going to our treatment plants.”

Thus, it noted, “we are constrained to implement a new scheme of rotational water service interruptions for the entire East Zone.”

Manila Water said in the same statement that it will implement 8- to 12-hour rotational service interruptions at night. It also advised its customers to check on their social media accounts for service cutoff schedules.

But based on the actual schedule of rotational supply disruption issued by Manila Water on Tuesday evening, some areas under its East Zone concession may experience service interruption for up to 17 hours.

MWSS Administrator Reynaldo Velasco earlier said water level at Angat Dam may drop to its critical level in two days if there would be no rain. 

READ: Water level at Angat Dam may reach critical level in two days — MWSS

As of June 18, Angat Dam’s water level was at 162 meters, only two meters above its critical level of 160 meters, according to Velasco. (Editor: Katherine G. Adraneda)

Editor’s Note: The title of this article was revised to reflect that Manila Water will implement up to 17 hours of supply interruption, not 12 hours as earlier indicated, based on the actual schedule of rotational service cutoff it issued Tuesday (June 18) evening.