Maynilad will begin implementing daily water service interruptions in six cities in Metro Manila on Wednesday due to the reduced allocation from Angat Dam.
The affected areas are Caloocan, Malabon, Manila, Valenzuela, Navotas, and Quezon City.
The complete list of affected areas and their respective interruption schedules (which will start at 7 p.m.) can be accessed here.
Last week, the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) announced that it would further reduce the water allocation for domestic use to 48 cubic meters per second (cms) from 50 cms should the water level at Angat Dam in Bulacan fall below 180 meters.
At 6 a.m. Wednesday, the reservoir water level (RWL) at the dam was 178.21 meters, which is below the 180-meter minimum operating level, the state weather bureau PAGASA said.
“The allocation was lowered in an effort to preserve water in Angat Dam, given the possible worsening effects of El Niño in the coming months. However, this also means that Maynilad will get less supply than it needs to sustain normal service levels,” Maynilad said in a statement on Monday.
“These interruption schedules will be retained while the current 48 cm raw water allocation remains in place.”
However, the water concessionaire floated the possibility of shorter service interruptions given that Maynilad now generates additional water from its various supply augmentation projects.
In case of need, its mobile water tankers are ready to deliver potable water.
Maynilad advised customers to keep enough water stored for their needs during the hours when supply will not be available and to store water in clean and covered containers.
“Upon resumption of water service, please expect some discoloration in the supply. This is a normal consequence of service interruptions, as the returning supply scours the naturally occurring mineral deposits inside the pipelines. When this happens, let the water flow out briefly until it clears, but use the initial flow of water for non-drinking purposes, such as flushing toilets, to avoid wastage,” it said.
Maynilad is the concessionaire for the West Zone of the Greater Manila Area, which consists of the cities of Manila (certain portions), Quezon City (certain portions), Makati (west of the South Super Highway), 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.
Manila Water, the East Zone concessionaire, has not announced any water service interruptions.
