Almost 1.7 cubic meters per second of water lost due to pipe leaks —Manila Water

Manila Water Company said Monday that almost 1.7 cubic meters per second (CMS) of water are being lost due to the leaks found in the portals between Ipo Dam in Bulacan and La Mesa Dam in Quezon City.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Manila Water corporate communications head Jeric Sevilla said that the aqueducts with leaks were already “relatively very old,” with others functioning since 1983, 1969, and even 1939.

“‘Yung tubig mula sa Angat ay pupunta ng Ipo Dam. Mula Ipo, ito ay bababa patungo sa tinatawag na portal sa may La Mesa Dam. Between sa Ipo papunta ng La Mesa, ito 'yung mga sinasabing na may mga aqueducts na nagle-leak,” he said.

(The water coming from Angat will go to Ipo Dam. From Ipo, it will go down to the portal in La Mesa Dam. The ones that are said to have leaking aqueducts are those between Ipo to La Mesa.)

“Halos 1.7 CMS 'yung nawawala. Pagdating sa portal kung saan naghahati ang tubig ng Manila Water at Maynilad—60% ang napupunta sa Maynilad, 40% ang napupunta sa Manila Water—kumbaga kulang na dahil nga may mga leak,” he added.

(Almost 1.7 CMS is missing. As the water arrives at the portal where it is being divided by the Manila Water and Maynilad—60% goes to Maynilad and 40% goes to Manila Water—it seems that it is not enough because there are leaks.)

Sevilla said that Manila Water and Maynilad, and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) have started the repair works for the pipe leaks since last Thursday.

He, however, admitted that it is still uncertain when the repairs will be finished as more leaks are still being discovered by their technical personnel.

“Mula nung Biyernes hanggang sa kasalukuyan, I think meron na pong apat na sites na na-repair na at tinitignan pa kung meron pang leaks along the aqueduct line,” Sevilla said.

(Since Friday until now, I think there are four sites that have been repaired. Others are still being checked to see if there are any more leaks along the aqueduct line.)

Maynilad earlier said the “massive leak repair” would stop the losses and help water supply augmentation measures in the National Capital Region.

The concessionaire last month said it found a major pipe leak coming from the lower end of a blow-off assembly connected to a 2,200-millimeter diameter steel pipe on its primary line in Makati, causing up to 57 hours of water service interruptions.

Maynilad said it is undertaking leak repair activities at the conveyance system to stop the losses in its aqueducts and improve raw water flow to the Novaliches Portal. —KG, GMA Integrated News