THINGS may have turned for the worse for the water concessionaires Manila Water and Maynilad, as instead of being granted an additional water allocation, the National Water Resources Board is reportedly mulling on reducing it.
Presently, the water allocation for the water utilities is at 50 cubic meter per second. However, sources said that the NWRB is looking to lower it by 2 cubic meters per second, which is the reverse of what the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) wanted and asked.
This means that instead of being given a 52 cubic meters per second of water, it will be reduced to 48 cubic meters per second.
Maynilad earlier said that consumers may have to wait longer in terms of service interruptions starting next month, as their “cross-portal arrangement” with the Manila Water Company will no longer be extended.
In a statement, Jennifer C. Rufo, head of the corporate communications of the water utility, also noted that based on the decline in terms of the water elevation at the La Mesa Dam.
This prompted the east zone concessionaire Manila Water Company Inc. to then start slowly suspend the supply sharing.
“This development will mean less supply for Maynilad to distribute, resulting in longer daily service interruption schedules starting April 1,” Maynilad said in their statement.
According to the statement, the cross-portal arrangement was made with less water reaching the Novaliches Portal in Quezon City
Prior to the announcement, Maynilad had already implemented water service interruptions.
Manila Water said that 40 percent of the allocation come from the Angat Dam, but they are give 2 to 4 percent to Maynilad.
“Kaya tayo nakakapagbigay ng tubig sa Maynilad sa portal kasi we are drawing water from La Mesa, ginagamit na natin ang reserve natin,” Jeric Sevilla, Manila Water Corporate Communications Affairs Group Director said.
“We will continue to assist Maynilad but so long as, it’s not going to affect naman yung ability ng Manila Water to provide service doon sa ating mga customers,” he added.
Maynilad admitted that this will be problem.
“Posible na mas dadami ang mga customer na maapektuhan, at mas marami po ang mas mahabang oras na mawawalan sila ng tubig kada araw. Ang normal na aming requirement sa la mesa portal at 2,400million liters per day para po normal po ang service level 10:57:45 for the last 3 days ng march, nasa 2,300 million liters per day ang pwede naming kunin 10:58:02 pagdating po ng april 1 baba na po even further,” Engr. Ronald Padua, head, water supply operations said.
According to NWRB Executive Director Sevillo David Jr., they are studying the situation of the water supply and looking for the best alternative to keep the stable supply.
“Ang pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan ay hindi lang sa kasalukuyan, pati yung hinaharap, kasi kung magbibigay naman tayo ngayon, itotodo natin ngayon baka pag nagkaroon ng El nino mas mahihirapan tayo, kailangan natin balansehin,” he said.
The MWSS on the other hand said they are prepared to do cloud seeding.
“Ang isa pang solution ay i improve ang nga nasa south na planta gaya ng Putatan at Poblacion. Kapag talagang 24 hours ang water Interruption natin, nagdedeploy po tayo ng mga water tankers, mga static tank, pinupuno natin, ina-activate ang deep wells,” Jose Dorado Jr.- Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Technical operations Group, MWSS said.
Catherine R. Cueto
