Zamora: Metro Manila mayors to discuss 'regulating' water usage of some businesses

Metro Manila mayors are set to discuss the possibility of regulating water usage of certain establishments to help mitigate the water crisis amid the warm and dry season, Metro Manila Council (MMC) president and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said on Thursday.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Zamora said the MMC supports the appeal of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) for businesses that use massive volumes of water to conserve and limit their usage.

He said he will call for a meeting among the local government officials to discuss the matter.

“Pag-uusapan ang mga bagay at hakbang na pwede nating gawin upang siguraduhing ma-regulate natin ang paggamit ng tubig ng mga establisyimento, lalong lalo na ‘yung mga malakas ang konsumo,” he said.

(We will talk about it and find ways to make sure we can regulate the use of water by establishments, especially those with high water consumption.)

Asked if the MMC is open to implementing a temporary ban on car wash, swimming pool, and golf courses that usually consume big amounts of water, Zamora said that the council will study all possibilities.

“It’s more of regulating the use. ‘Yung total ban naman ay hindi agad agad masasabi ngayon… We can regulate the use. Regulate means talagang magbibigay tayo ng mga panuntunan o guidelines kung ano ba ang dapat gawin,” he explained.

(For a total ban right now, we can't say yet... We can regulate the use, meaning we will actually give rules or guidelines on what should be done.)

“We have to identify ano ba ang mga establisyemento na we can consider na talagang malakas ang konsumo ng tubig. Necessary ba ang mga ‘yan? pwede bang magbawas? ito ang bagay na dapat upuan,” he added.

(We have to identify the establishments that consume large volumes of water. Are those things necessary? Can the usage be reduced? this is something that we should discuss.)

Zamora said that they would also consider the business owners who will be affected by this measure to conserve water.

On April 11, MWSS said there is enough water supply in Metro Manila despite the increased demand and reduced water level of dams amid the summer season.

MWSS Manager for Field Operations Jose Escoto Jr., however, said the MWSS requested additional water supply from Angat Dam from the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) in anticipation of the continuous lowering of the water level of the La Mesa Dam. —Giselle Ombay/ VAL, GMA Integrated News