THE Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) said it is investigating the water service interruptions affecting some customers of Maynilad Water Services, Inc. in the South area due to maintenance at its Putatan treatment plant, which draws water from Laguna de Bay.
“It’s currently being investigated. We have already asked Maynilad to submit their explanation and we are evaluating whether or not their explanations are valid,” Patrick Lester N. Ty said on Tuesday in a text message.
The west zone water concessionaires said about 43,000 service connections in the areas of Las Piñas, Bacoor and Imus are expected to experience three months of daily water service interruptions between 5 p.m. and 6 a.m. The interruptions will run between Aug. 8 and Nov. 2, Maynilad said in an advisory.
The interruptions stem from maintenance at Putatan Water Treatment Plant 2 in Muntinlupa, Jennifer C. Rufo, head of Maynilad corporate communications, said on Tuesday.
“At present, we do not have excess capacity in the Putatan influence area. As a result, when we implement critical repairs or maintenance activities, there are customers whose service levels are affected,” Ms. Rufo said in a Viber message.
Ms. Rufo said Maynilad is currently conducting the replacement of all 14 ultrafiltration (UF) membranes at the facility.
“The UF replacement project is critical to ensure our plant is prepared to handle the expected higher turbidity of Laguna Lake in the coming Amihan season,” she said.
However, Ms. Rufo said the service interruptions will ultimately depend on the facility’s output.
“I have to stress also, it is possible that the interruptions do not happen as scheduled. Because if the plant can push production, there will be days within the period that customers will have supply. Nevertheless, we want customers to be prepared for the scheduled interruptions as announced,” she said.
The completion of Maynilad’s Poblacion water treatment plant in Muntinlupa, with an expected capacity of 150 million liters per day, will yield adequate water supply to provide the water requirements of its customers, she added.
“With the completion of the ongoing construction of the 150 MLD Poblacion treatment plant, we will have buffer capacity to ensure uninterrupted service even during maintenance activities,” Ms. Rufo said.
In January, Maynilad announced that its Poblacion water treatment facility is 53% complete and is expected to produce 50 MLD of additional water by the end of this year.
Maynilad serves the cities of Manila, except portions of San Andres and Sta. Ana. It operates in Quezon City, Makati, Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas, and Malabon. It also supplies the cities of Cavite, Bacoor, and Imus, and the towns of Kawit, Noveleta, and Rosario, all in Cavite province.
Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which has a majority stake in Maynilad, is one of three Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT Inc.
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