Water utility company Maynilad appealed for understanding from their customers as the water interruption in areas in southern Metro Manila and Cavite would continue to persist even after the Holy Week.

Maynilad Spokesperson Jennifer Rufo, said that they expect the water supply to normalize by mid-April.

“Magi-improve na nga po siya pero gradually lamang so hindi po siya immediate na magi-increase ang production,” Rufo said.

(It will improve but gradually. So we cannot immediately increase production)

She said that this is still due to the situation at the Putatan Treatment Plant.

“So in the next couple of weeks, siguro (perhaps) around mid-April, mare-restrore na po natin siya (we can restore it) but we will provide updates po kung ano man ang magiging situation sa (on what else can happen in the) south,” Rufo explained.

Residents claimed they had been experiencing water interruptions since December.

They were told it would extend still be extended until March 24, due to the water turbidity at the Putatan Treatment Plant

Maynilad pointed the blame to the northeast monsoon, as to why they are having hard time trying to process the water.

“Tuwing amihan season, ang direksyon ng hangin, tinutulak ang tubig ng lawa papunta sa treatment plant natin. At dahil mababaw po ang Laguna Lake, mas mabilis mabulabog ang sediments sa lake bed kaya diretso po siyang pumupunta sa treatment plant,” Rufo said.

(Every northeast monsoon season, the wind direction pushes the water to the treatment plant. And since the Laguna Lake is shallow, it quickly disrupts the sediments at the lake bed, and it goes directly to the treatment plant)

According to Rudo, they are preparing for the dry season where the water consumption increases by as much as 6 percent.

“Kasama po diyan ang paga-activate ng mga karagdagang deep wells na pagkukunan ng additional supply. Mayroon din po tayong tinatayong modular treatment plants sa south,” she said.

(Among the measures include the activation of the deep wells, where we can get additional supply. We are also creating a modular treatment plants in the south).

Catherine R. Cueto