Maynilad Water Services Inc. is under fire for alleged poor service in its concession area that generated mounting complaints from consumers.
The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System-Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO) has issued on November 16 a notice to explain (NTE) to Maynilad for its failure to inform customers to store water and prepare for possible water service interruptions prior to the onset of Typhoon Ulysses.
MWSS-RO served another NTE to Maynilad on November 20 over the surge of customer complaints for the poor aesthetic quality of water and non-adherence to its announced water service interruption schedules.
Patrick Ty, MWSS chief regulator, said in the first NTE, the agency directed Maynilad to ensure affected customers do not experience low pressure to no water for more than 24 hours.
Maynilad is expected to give a reply within the week. MWSS-RO has asked the company to offer solutions to ensure the incident does not happen again.
“This was in consideration of the expected increase in raw water turbidity levels and the subsequent decrease in water production in the treatment plants during a heavy downpour,” Ty said over the apparent failure of Maynilad to warn its customers.
About 70 percent of Maynilad’s customers or around one million service accounts will experience daily rotational water service interruption until November 24 to give way to massive cleanup of the high volume of sludge in its treatment plants.
Meanwhile, some 58,000 household-customers of Manila Water Co. Inc. in some areas in Manila and Makati will experience water supply interruption beginning November 24.
The company in a statement said the interruption will give way to a valve installation on its mainline at the Lambingan Bridge in Sta. Ana, Manila.
Manila Water said the supply interruption will start at p.m. and will last until 6 a.m. the next day.
Around 232,000 people in 94 barangays will be affected.
In Manila, affected barangays are numbers 763 to 891 while in Makati, affected barangays are Kasilawan, Olympia, Poblacion, Valenzuela, Tejeros, Singkamas, Carmona, Sta. Cruz ,Pio Del Pilar, La Paz, San Antonio, Bangkal, Bel-Air and San Lorenzo. – J. Macapagal