Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 17) – The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) conducted an inspection of Maynilad’s water treatment plant in Muntinlupa City, which the water concessionaire blames for the water service interruptions in its service areas.
The MWSS Regulatory Office earlier issued two notices asking Maynilad to explain the prolonged interruptions.
“If found non-compliant with the 24 hours/7 psi pressure of water supply obligation for at least 15 days, MWSS RO will be imposing financial penalties to Maynilad,” said Engr. Patrick Dizon, MWSS Regulatory Office Manager for Site Operations.
Maynilad said its customers – especially in the Cavite area – have been experiencing extended water service interruptions due to problems at its water treatment plant in Putatan, Muntinlupa City.
It added the plant has been experiencing high algae count due to low rainfall at Laguna de Bay and the occurrence of high turbidity caused by the northeast monsoon.
“The effect of these two factors resulted in long period of treatment and reduced water treatment plant production due to slow recovery of the pre-treatment process and the ultra-filtration membrane as well as frequent backwashing resulted to overflow and spilling of the sludge treatment facility,” the MWSS Regulatory Office said.
To increase water production, MWSS instructed Maynilad to maintain its raw water daily average extraction of 2400 million liters per day from Ipo Dam for their Bagbag Reservoir in Quezon City.
Maynilad covers the cities of Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Manila, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon, and Valenzuela. It also services some areas in Cavite like the cities of Bacoor, Cavite, and Imus, and the towns of Kawit, Noveleta, and Rosario.
Meanwhile, the MWSS assured Manila Water customers that they will have zero to minimal water interruption in the coming days.
CNN Philippines correspondent Eimor Santos contributed to this report.
