Manila Water’s Rizal project to help augment dwindling supply

La Mesa Dam. (File photo by JOAN BONDOC / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

To address possible water interruptions due to dwindling water supply from the La Mesa Dam reservoir, water concessionaire Manila Water announced on Thursday that its Rizal Water Supply Improvement Project due to be finished this year would be tapped to augment the demand of water consumers.

“Kukuha tayo ng tubig mula sa Laguna de Bay, tapos nagtayo tayo ng treatment plant sa may Cardona sa Rizal, para ‘yong mga taga Rizal instead na kumuha ng tubig sa Angat, dito na sila kukuha,” Manila Water Corporate Communications Head Jeric Sevilla said in an interview with Radyo Inquirer.

“We are looking at the third or fourth quarter of this year, nasimulan na ‘yan two years ago pa, nakatakda ‘yong completion ng proyekto by the latter part of this year,” Sevilla said.

The Cardona plant is seen as a countermeasure to the dependence on water supply from the La Mesa Dam reservoir, which sources fresh water from Angat Dam.  The La Mesa Dam is currently in a critical low level of 72 meters.

READ: Manila Water: Brace for service interruptions as La Mesa Dam hits critical level

It is also predicted to partially ease the demand from Angat Dam before the Kaliwa Dam in Tanay, Rizal is opened.

“Ang problema lang ‘don sa Kaliwa Dam ayon sa MWSS, ito ay maaaring maging online sa 2023 pa,” Sevilla said.

But until the Cardona plant goes online, Sevilla pleads to Manila Water’s customers to conserve water to avoid widespread water interruption.

“Wala pa po tayo sa panahon ng tag-ulan, at ‘yon lamang ang paraan para mag-refill ang dams natin, habang hinihintay po natin ‘yan, tayo po ay nananawagan sa ating mga customers ng responsable at wastong paggamit ng tubig,” he added.” /jpv