Maynilad sets rotating water interruption

MANILA, Philippines — Customers of Maynilad Water Services Inc. should brace for up to 16 hours of water service interruption until next week.

In an advisory issued yesterday, Maynilad said its basins have been filled with sludge due to increased turbidity of raw water going into its treatment plants since last week.

One of the basins has been fully drained, exposing a four-meter high accumulation of sludge equivalent to 20,000 drums of sludge.

Maynilad said it expects to see the same volume of sludge in the other two basins that also need to be cleansed.

“To give way to this cleaning, we have to reduce the production of water in our plants,” the water concessionaire said.

Roughly one million people or 70 percent of Maynilad’s customers will experience daily water service interruption that will last until Nov. 24.

The interruption can last from 12 hours to 16 hours per day.

From the usual average of 2,300 million liters per day, Maynilad’s water production is down to only 1,900 MLD.

Interruption has been set from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Manila; 4 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Malabon and Navotas, and 4 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Pasay, Parañaque and Makati.

Bacoor, Imus, Kawit, Noveleta and Cavite City will experience interruption from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Water service interruption in Quezon City, Las Piñas and Valenzuela is set from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Muntinlupa will have low-pressure to no water from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. and Caloocan from 4 p.m. to 5 a.m.

“We have to spread out limited supply so that all affected customers will still receive water daily, albeit within a limited availability window,” Maynilad said.

The concessionaire advised customers to store enough water during the window period.

Maynilad said it would continue to deliver potable water to affected customers. – Rhodina Villanueva