Maynilad launches measures vs. El Niño impact

The Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) said it has been mobilizing personnel to manage the effects of El Niño on its concession area’s water supply.

Among Maynilad’s mitigating measures are the prompt repair of pipe leaks and extension of operating hours of pumping stations.

The company said in a statement that it would deploy its four portable water treatment plants to hard-to-reach areas, reactivate several deep wells, install stationary tanks, and send water tankers to severely affected areas. This, after the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) reduced the Angat Dam supply allocation for Metro Manila from 41cm. (cubic meters per second) to 38cm. beginning this September, in an effort to preserve the water supply during El Niño season.

At 38cm. allocation, Maynilad estimates that some 900 barangays (villages) or 56 percent of its concession area will experience the impact of the raw water supply cutback. Of this 56 percent, about 18 percent will be severely affected, with water available to these areas for less than 12 hours. To ensure that the limited supply will be maximized and that all affected customers will have some water at least at certain times of the day, Maynilad will be implementing rotating service interruptions.

“We shall announce the date of the water service interruptions two days before implementation. This way, our affected customers will have enough time to store water,” said Engr. Ronaldo Padua, head of Maynilad’s Water Supply Operations.

Maynilad said it has significantly enhanced its operational efficiencies since the last El Niño in 2010, and made system and infrastructure improvements, making it better prepared for this latest El Niño episode. It has increased water storage capacity from 281 MLD (million liters per day) to 561 MLD after it constructed 11 new reservoirs to add to its existing 14. The company has also added 15 new pumping stations to its existing 11. In addition, Maynilad’s campaign to reduce water loss or Non-Revenue Water (NRW) has brought NRW in the West Zone down from 53 percent in 2010 to 32 percent by June 2015. This translates to over 400 MLD of recovered water that the company can deliver to its customers. With these investments, Maynilad has improved capacity to manage the limited supply during El Niño.

Maynilad is an agent and contractor of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) for the West Zone of the Greater Manila Area, which is composed of the cities of Manila (certain areas), Quezon City (certain areas), Makati (certain areas), Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon — all in Metro Manila; the cities of Cavite, Bacoor and Imus, and the towns of Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario— all in Cavite Province.