LWUA: Annual water leakage outside Metro Manila at 488 million MT

The Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) on Tuesday said it was addressing the leakages in the water districts outside Metro Manila which reached 488 million metric tons yearly, or about half the size of the Angat Dam.

This was part of the agency’s water conservation efforts amid the El Niño phenomenon, LWUA Chairperson Ronnie Ong said.

“Sobrang taas [ng leakages]. When I assumed office two months ago, ako mismo nagulat. We’re averaging about 488 million metric tons na tinatapon natin yearly,” said Ong in an interview with the ANC.

(The leakage is high.  When I assumed office two months ago, I was shocked. The water wastage is averaging about 488 million metric tons yearly.)

“We have about 532 water districts under LWUA. Out of 532, we have around 244 who have numbers higher than 30%. Out of the 244 again, 20 have 41% up to 71% na percentage na tinatapon na tubig. Sobrang taas,” Ong added.

LWUA manages the districts outside Metro Manila while the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System regulates the water supply in the National Capital Region.

Ong said the worldwide average for water wastage is around 20% but the Philippines averages to 30%. Some water districts in the country also have an average of about 75%.

“Do you know that we have some water districts na panahon pa ng Japanese? Asbestos type pa. There’s also sanitation that comes in. ‘Yung tubig tinatapon natin, di lang tinatapon, ‘yung sanitation nga and health. Kailangan talaga natin tingnan,” he added.

(Do you know that some water districts were established during the Japanese occupation? They were made of asbestos. There’s also sanitation that comes in. We need to check it.)

Last March, LWUA said it was set to roll out infrastructure work and provide technical support to ensure that the country had enough water resources for the El Niño phenomenon.

The agency also said it was taking a whole-of-nation approach to the conservation program, with the thin water supply affecting health, agriculture, and the economy. — DVM, GMA Integrated News