FILE PHOTO: The Intake 4 structure in La Mesa Dam can bring 1,000 million liters of water daily from La Mesa Dam to the Balara Treatment Plant in Quezon City. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) assured the public on Tuesday that no scheduled water service interruptions are due to a lack of supply because dams providing water to Metro Manila are currently at normal levels.
“Mga dam levels po natin ay still within the normal level, kung may mga bali-balita man po ng water interruptions sa dalawang concessionaire namin (Maynilad and Manila Water), galing po ‘yan doon sa mga kinumpuni nilang sirang linya,” explained said MWSS Field Operation Manager General Jose Alfredo Escoto Jr during a press conference.
(Our dam levels are still within the normal level, if there are any rumors about water interruptions at our two concessionaires [Maynilad and Manila Water], it is from the broken water lines they are repairing.)
“Kapag i-compare natin ’yung mga dam levels ngayon sa dam levels last year (same period in 2022), mas mataas pa po ngayon level ng dams natin,” he added.
(If we compare the dam levels today with the dam levels last year, our dams are even higher now.)
According to Escoto, the water elevation in La Mesa Dam as of Tuesday morning is currently at 78.9 meters – more than its “critical level” of 64.5 meters.
Escoto, however, emphasized the need to maintain the level of La Mesa Dam, noting this is the reason why the MWSS had asked the National Water Resources Board to temporarily raise the water allocation from Angat Dam to La Mesa Dam to 52 cubic meters per second from 50 cubic meters per second in the beginning of April.
But MWSS General Manager Delfin Sespene said the request is still for approval.
READ: NWRB evaluates request of MWSS, Maynilad, Manila Water for extra water allocation
No plans for water rationing yet
Sespene likewise disclosed during the press briefing that there are no plans for widespread water rationing yet, and that the MWSS has already placed measures in case issues on water supply arise.
“As earlier announced, wala pong mangyayaring water rationing, that’s why we have these mitigation measures come July,” said Sespene.
(As earlier announced, there will be no water rationing, so we have these mitigation measures come July.)
According to Sespene, these efforts include supply and pressure management, water treatment plans, activation of deep wells, and leak repairs.
As for Manila Water’s service, Escoto said the concessionaire can still supply water 24/7 to its customers amid stable sources.
READ: Manila Water customers assured of 24/7 supply
But Maynilad, he noted, is implementing water service interruptions due to repairs on its water lines and the water quality of Laguna Lake.
“So ‘yung production po ng planta is apektado, so syempre ‘pag nagbabawas ng production ang planta, ‘yung service area po nitong planta, which is within part of Parañaque and up to part of Cavite, makaka-experience po ‘yan ng low supply,” Escoto explained.
(So the plant’s production is affected, so, of course, if the plant is decreasing its production, the area being serviced by this plant, which is within part of Parañaque and up to part of Cavite, will experience low supply.)
Nevertheless, Escoto said Manila Water is helping Maynilad by providing water to cross-border boundaries of the concessions areas to minimize the scope affected by Maynilad’s water service interruptions.
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