Maynilad announces up to 57 hours of water service interruptions

Nearly 115,000 service connections of Maynilad Water Services Inc. are set to experience up to 57 hours of water interruptions in the coming week, as the concessionaire seeks to repair a major leak on its primary line in Makati.

In a statement released Tuesday, Maynilad said customers in parts of Manila, Makati, Pasay, and Parañaque can expect 20-hour to 57-hour water service interruptions starting 3 p.m. on March 5 until 11:59 p.m. on March 7.

“Maynilad has to expose the underground pipe to properly assess the extent of the damage,” it said.

“Its workers will need 52 hours to excavate the site, drain the primary line, repair the damage, and energize the affected pipeline,” it added.

Maynilad over the weekend said it discovered a major pipe leak coming from the lower end of a blow-off assembly connected to a 2,200-millimeter diameter steel pipe located 7 meters underground.

Below is a list of the affected areas:

The company said it will also conduct parallel activities such as leak repairs and pipe inspections in other areas while the service interruptions are in place.

It will also conduct maintenance works at the Villamor and Espiritu Pump Stations during the period.

“To mitigate the impact of the pipe repair activity, Maynilad is installing seven stationary water tanks and deploying 30 mobile water tankers to serve affected areas, particularly those that will experience 57 hours straight of interrupted supply,” Maynilad said.

“It will also tap the assistance of local government units and local fire bureaus to expand the available fleet of water tankers that can help deliver water to affected communities,” it added.

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 2023.

Just last month, however, the MWSS Regulatory Office 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. —Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/KBK, GMA Integrated News