Low water level at Angat Dam has Maynilad, Manila Water implementing water interruptions

Maynilad Water Services Inc and Manila Water Company are poised to implement water service interruptions starting this Thursday, October 24.

Maynilad, which has 9.8 million customers, said the water interruptions might continue until 2020.

As of 2 p.m. on Monday, the water level In Angat Dam was at 186.35 meters.

Maynilad and Manila Water both projected that the water level would go down further to 182 meters at the end of the year.

The minimum operating level is at 180 meters.

“Lahat po sila makakaranas. Paiikutin po namin ang tubig para ho lahat ho ay magkakaroon ng pagkakataong mag-ipon nang sapat on a daily basis,” Rodel Tumandao, Maynilad Water Source Department head said.

“Ito hong ginagawa naming interruptions ay bilang kahandaan ho para sa summer next year. Gusto ho nating i-preserve yung Angat level dahil ho hindi tumataas ang level ng Angat,” he added.

“Nakikita ho naming magtatagal ito hanggang next year o until such time na maibalik sa 48 cubic meters per second yung alokasyon ho na nire-release ng NWRB papunta sa MWSS,” Tumandao said.

Manila Water will also implement water service interruptions starting Thursday.

“Pababa yung level ng Angat Dam. So para ma-manage natin yung natitirang tubig sa loob ng dam, kailangan naming magpatupad ng water interruption," Donna Perez, Manila Water’s technical spokesperson said.  

"Ito ay maaaring masimulan na namin simula ng Thursday kapag patuloy pa ring bumababa at walang pag-uulan,” she added.

Manila Water said that the water service interruptions would not be as bad as those earlier this year.

“Ngayon naman, mas nakapag-prepare ang Manila Water. Meron naman kaming mga nagawang technical solutions kaya kung mapapansin nyo, sana 4 to 10 hours lang ang interruption ngayon,” Perez said.

Like Maynilad, Manila Water said the water interruptions might continue until next year.

“Actually, ang mangyayari po ay puwedeng low pressure to no water po talaga. Nakikita natin na tatagal siya hanggang sa mga susunod na taon," Perez said.

"Actually, ang nakikita talaga natin, patuloy na bababa ang lebel ng Angat Dam hanggat walang pag-uulan at pangalawa, hanggat wala tayong bagong source,” she added.

The two water concessionaires advised their customers to not only save water, but also to store only what they need for one day.

“Lalakas yung demand pag sobrang daming iipunin. Mas maraming tubig ang maiimbak imbes na kumbaga nakukuha pa ng ibang bahay yon o nagagamit pa natin sa iba,” Perez said.

“I-store din ito sa maayos na lalagyanan na may takip. Meron kasing chlorine yung tubig. Ito, nagdidissipate within 2 days,” she added.

“No hoarding of water. So sapat lang ho. Kasi ang objective ho natin ngayon, pagkasyahin ho natin ang tubig para lahat ho magkaroon,” Tumandao said.

“Pagkabukas nyo ho ng gripo nyo, padaluyin nyo po muna yung tubig hanggang umabot po sa maging malinaw yung lumalabas. Pero ipunin na rin natin yung tubig na yon kahit hindi pa siya ganoon kalinaw para magamit po nating panlinis,” he added.

Maynilad and Manila Water customers can check the two water concessionaires’ social media accounts for the water service interruption schedules. —NB, GMA News