Maynilad customers spared from water supply cuts due to ‘Lando’
LA MESA Dam’s water rises to normal levels after Typhoon “Lando” dumps rains in Luzon, elevating the water level in Angat and other dams which supply water to Metro Manila. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
MORE than half of the customers of Maynilad Water Services Inc. have been spared from seven-hour water service interruptions after Typhoon “Lando” raised the water level in Angat Dam to 203 meters above sea level (masl).
Maynilad said it “suspended until further notice” the implementation of a supply-management scheme from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. starting last Sunday.
The service interruptions started on Sept. 16 when the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) reduced the water supply for Metro Manila —mostly sourced from Angat Dam and used as raw water for domestic services—from 41 cubic meters per second to 38 cms.
Maynilad said 56 percent of its customers were affected, mainly those in elevated areas.
Before Lando dumped heavy rains in Luzon, water at Angat Dam was pegged at 194.15 masl or almost 10 meters lower than the level observed on Tuesday morning.
Article continues after this advertisement“This water elevation has increased our confidence that we will have enough supply to mitigate the impact of the strong El Niño on Maynilad’s production level,” said Ronaldo Padua, head of Maynilad’s water production group, in a statement.
Article continues after this advertisement“(We) will monitor how long this level can be sustained, and if it is enough to meet Metro Manila’s water supply requirements until the middle of 2016 when we expect the El Niño episode to end,” Padua added.
He said Maynilad would give two days’ advance notice should water levels decrease again, forcing it to resume water supply interruptions.
On the other hand, Manila Water Company Inc. is maintaining its pressure-reduction measures but it will wait for an advisory from the government-led El Niño technical working group (TWG) on whether the allocation of water releases from Angat will be increased.
Since Sept. 21, Manila Water has reduced the water pressure for some of its customers, also during off-peak hours or from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
“There will be protocols to follow and we need to hear from the TWG on whether supply allocations from Angat will be increased before we make any changes,” said Jeric T. Sevilla Jr., head of Manila Water’s corporate communications group.
In an interview, Sevilla explained that the El Niño TWG—which includes the NWRB—holds weekly meetings during which the group “recalibrates supply projections” that help determine decisions related to allocations.
