Improved water availability seen for Maynilad customers

MANILA, Philippines — Customers of Maynilad Water Services Inc. can expect improved water availability in 2027 once it completes the expansion of its critical Bagbag Reservoir.

Maynilad said it is allotting over P1 billion to expand the capacity of the Bagbag Reservoir to improve service reliability for its customers.

It said the P1.07-billion Bagbag Reservoir expansion project would involve the construction of a new chamber in the underground reservoir, adding another 100 million liters to its storage capacity.

The water firm said it would also implement other enhancement works on the facility, such as the installation of a 1,800-millimeter-diameter inlet and outlet pipeline, construction of a new tank, and upgrade of the refilling pumps to improve its operating capacity.

Once the enhancements are completed in 2027, it will improve water pressure in the elevated and far-flung portions of the west concession that is served by the Bagbag Reservoir.

“Demand for water has been increasing over the years due to population growth in urban areas. By increasing our water-storage capacity, we can address water availability issues, especially during hours of peak demand when consumption can sometimes exceed our water reserves,” Maynilad president and CEO Ramoncito Fernandez said in a statement.

The Bagbag Reservoir in Quezon City is Maynilad’s main reservoir, out of the current 38 reservoirs located throughout the west concession area.

Currently, it can store up to 200 million liters of treated water produced by its La Mesa Treatment Plants 1 and 2.

This reservoir serves some four million customers – equivalent to around 58 percent of Maynilad’s total customer base – in Quezon City, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Manila, Makati, Pasay, and parts of Parañaque and Cavite.

Last March, Maynilad customers experienced daily water service interruptions in parts of its concession area as a measure to conserve water with the El Niño phenomenon projected within the second half.

The water company implemented another round of water service interruptions for 591,000 customers in affected barangays in Caloocan, Malabon, Valenzuela, Navotas, Quezon City and Manila during nighttime due to the reduction in raw water allocation from Angat Dam.

The service interruptions were lifted after five days due to improved water levels in major dams brought about by heavy rains.

Maynilad is the concessionaire of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) for the West Zone of the Greater Manila Area.

It covers the cities of Manila (certain areas), Quezon City (certain areas), Makati (certain areas), Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon – all in Metro Manila; the cities of Cavite, Bacoor and Imus, and the towns of Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario – all in Cavite Province.