Maynilad inaugurates new water treatment plant

Water concessionaire Maynilad on Monday inaugurated a new water treatment plant that aims to address the water shortage in Metro Manila and nearby areas in Cavite.

According to Maki Pulido's report on GMA's 24 Oras, the Putatan Water Treatment Plant releases 100 million liters of water per day and benefits one million Maynilad customers.

The water it treats comes from Laguna Lake and new technologies such as large-scale ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis were installed to treat the mud-colored water and make it safe for drinking.

"Our technology partners were challenged with the kind of impurities that are in the lake. But I think we've learned a lot and we've installed new technology like reverse osmosis so now there are fewer and fewer problems," Maynilad chairman Manny Pangilinan said.

The Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) said that the water quality in Laguna Lake is deteriorating due to residential and commercial establishments that are dumping wastes there.

"As part of Manila Bay rehab, pino-police natin ang mga industries," LLDA assistant manager Gener Dungo said.

Due to population increase, water demand continues to balloon and exploration of other potential sources of water becomes crucial to prevent a water crisis in the near future.

Angat Dam currently serves as the primary source of water supply for Metro Manila and some parts of Rizal.

Customers of the other Metro Manila water concessionaire, Manila Water, continue to experience water service interruptions.

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) said it submitted a recommendation to President Rodrigo Duterte to impose an additional rebate for affected customers that would serve as a sanction on Manila Water.

"Merong article 10-4, aside from doon meron pang dagdag para happy 'yung mga taga-Manila, para 'yung Maynilad hindi na maulit," MWSS administrator Rey Velasco said.

Manila Water said it is willing to cooperate with the MWSS Regulatory Office.

"Manila Water will cooperate with MWSS RO on the penalty determination process which is clearly defined in section 10.4 of the Concession Agreement. As of now, we have not received any formal advice from MWSS," the concessionaire's spokesperson Jeric Sevilla said. — Dona Magsino/BM, GMA News