Status symbol and answered prayers

Traditionally, the status symbol of the rich and upwardly mobile Filipino has been ownership of a Porsche, a Ferrari or owning an exclusive condominium unit that costs upwards of a hundred million. But that’s all “so yesterday’s glory” because starting this week the race is on to own an all stainless steel water tanker that can store 4000 to 12,000 liters of water. 4000 liters gives you 1000 gallons or 18 full size drums of water while a 12,000-liter tanker gives you 3000 gallons or 54.5 gallons of water. If you want to own one of these vital assets and the latest luxury item east of Metro Manila you can try calling companies like United Auctioneers who sometimes have these units available at a cost of 1.2 Million for the 4000-liter tanker and 2.4 Million for the 12,000 liter tanker. For the price of an Asian Utility vehicle or an SUV you get to park one of these units for your neighbors to drool over!

*      *      *

In response to the drought and water shortage, Netizens have called out for people to earnestly pray for God to make it rain. He has clearly given a response in the form of showers last Saturday morning in the Batangas, Laguna and Pasay areas and it rained briefly in our neighborhood last Sunday just enough perhaps to tell us He’s listening. But in the end it will still be up to us how to manage our resources, to appreciate the value of what we have taken for granted and like a couple of companies, learn to share and work with each other.

Last Friday, a couple of companies sent out press releases to the media as part of their response to the water crisis being experienced by Manila Water customers.

For its part San Miguel Corporation (SMC) announced: “that it is looking to utilize its untapped water allocation from Angat Dam to provide water to over six million people in the east zone of Metro Manila currently experiencing supply shortage. The company, through its Bulacan Bulk Water Treatment Plant, hopes to be able to deliver 140 million liters of clean, treated water to areas affected by the shortage upon coordination with, and approval by, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS). 

In January, San Miguel operationalized Stage 1 of its Bulacan Bulk Water Project, which is mandated to supply water to 24 Bulacan water districts at P8.50 per cubic meter, the lowest bulk water charge anywhere in the country. Ang explained that currently, Phase 1 of the project has a production capacity of 200 million liters per day. However, as many water districts have yet to upgrade and prepare their facilities to receive water from the BBWSP, only about 60 million liters per day are currently being utilized.

“This leaves an excess capacity of about 140 million liters per day, which is enough to serve the average daily requirements of two million people or about 455,000 households. As a quick response to the situation of customers of Manila Water, we will coordinate with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and local government units to secure permits to place water refilling stations in affected areas,” Ang said. The undertaking, he explains, will not be easy. To deliver the untapped capacity of 140 million liters per day will require an estimated 14,000 truck trips per day using 10-kiloliter (kl) tankers, or 7,000 trips per day using 20 kl tankers, Ang explained. “However, in order to fully utilize the capacity, it will be necessary for us to open the Bulacan Bulk Water facility to allow 3rd party suppliers to source potable water and assist in delivering water to affected communities. This will require clearance from MWSS as concession grantor. We will also need to coordinate with the LGUs for the organization and management of water filling stations,” Ang added. (edited version)

*      *      *

Maynilad also responded regarding the La Mesa Dam By-pass:

There has been considerable discussion in social media about the claim of a former MWSS and Manila Water employee, Mr. Angel Salazar, that the water shortage in the Manila Water area is due allegedly to the closure of a bypass gate at the La Mesa portal which, according to Mr. Salazar, favors Maynilad and not Manila Water.

We wish to inform the public that Manila Water, which totally controls this bypass gate, has opened it since February 2018. This bypass gate regulates the flow of water from the La Mesa portal to both the La Mesa Dam and to the Balara Water Treatment Plants, all of which are controlled by Manila Water. MWSS has nothing to do with this bypass gate.

The Concessionaires – Maynilad and Manila Water, share the raw water from Angat Dam. 60 percent goes to Maynilad owing to its bigger customer base of 9.5 million, while 40 percent goes to Manila Water which has a customer base of 6.8 million.

Maynilad’s raw water allocation comes directly from Angat Dam. It does not source raw water from La Mesa Dam which is exclusively for Manila Water’s use. It is the water level in La Mesa Dam that is now severely depleted, notwithstanding the normal water level in Angat Dam.

The 60:40 sharing between the Concessionaires is not maintained throughout the day. Maynilad gets more than 60 percent at night so that it could fill up its Bagbag reservoir. Manila Water gets more than 40 percent during the day when its demand for water in its service area is high.  But ultimately, the average splitting between the Concessionaires is 60:40.

Manila Water has been getting its full allocation of 1,600 million liters per day (MLD) from Angat Dam. Maynilad has not done and will not do anything to deprive Manila Water of its 1,600 MLD allocation.

For its part, Maynilad has been maximizing its 2,400 MLD allocation from Angat Dam to ensure that its customers would have relatively stable supply of water throughout summer, despite a weak El Niño.

*      *      *

E-mail: [email protected]