Water supply cuts in Manila likely due to major pipe leak –Maynilad

Customers of Maynilad Water Services Inc. in Manila can expect service interruptions, as the west zone concessionaire on Sunday said it discovered a major pipe leak which may take several days to repair.

In an advisory on Sunday, Maynilad said the pipe leak came from a 2,200 millimeter diameter primary line located seven meters underground along Osmeña Highway corner Zobel Roxas in Manila.

The company said it will need to excavate the site and expose the pipe to fully assess the extent of the damage, and may take several days to repair, affecting water services for customers who receive their supply through the line.

“Maynilad will announce the schedule of service interruptions and the specific affected areas prior to implementation of the pipe repair so that affected customers can prepare,” the advisory read.

Maynilad estimates a water loss recovery of around 20 to 30 million liters per day once the leak is repaired, boosting water pressure in adjacent areas.

“We want to implement the leak repairs as soon as possible, since repairing it will help to significantly improve service levels in the area,” Supply Operations Head Engr. Ronaldo Padua said.

Maynilad earlier this month said it targets to provide uninterrupted water services with normal water pressure to 88% of its customers by the end of 2023, and to all its customers by 2027.

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) last year approved the rate hike request of Maynilad, which sought a P3.29 per cubic meter water rate adjustment starting this January.

Just last month, however, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO) slapped Maynilad with a P27.477-million penalty, which will be refunded to customers in southern Luzon where interruptions were recorded in December 2022 and this January.

Maynilad has since said that it already agreed with the MWSS-RO on the rebate, and maintenance activities are ongoing to address the water service issues.

Prior to this, the MWSS last September slapped Maynilad with a P9.264-million fine for “unusual and prolonged” service interruptions experienced by customers from May to July 2022.

The MWSS also penalized Maynilad in February 2022 for unusual and prolonged service interruptions within the Putatan Water Treatment Plant supply zone, equivalent to a rebate of P323 in the April bill.

Maynilad currently serves customers in the west zone, which covers the cities of Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Manila, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon, Valenzuela. It also services certain areas in Cavite such as the cities of Bacoor, Cavite, and Imus; and the towns of Kawit, Noveleta, and Rosario. —LBG, GMA Integrated News