The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System-Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO) ordered Maynilad Water Services Inc. to grant a rebate to customers affected by the company’s service interruptions last year.
Patrick Ty, MWSS-RO chief regulator, said in a statement investigations found problems in the due Putatan water treatment plants (PWTP) in Muntinlupa which resulted in prolonged water service interruptions for Maynilad’s customers since last December 20.
MWSS-RO also found Maynilad to have violated its service obligation of ensuring the availability of an uninterrupted 24-hour supply of water to connected customers within the PWTP supply zone.
Areas under the PWTP supply zone include Parañaque, Las Piñas and Muntinlupa as well as Bacoor, Imus, Cavite, Rosario and Noveleta in Cavite.
The regulatory body said that last week, Maynilad accepted the findings and volunteered to provide a rebate to affected customers.
“The MWSS-RO is currently in the process of assessing the final rebate amount which shall not be recoverable or passed on to the consumers. Meanwhile, the MWSS-RO has ordered Maynilad to fast-track the resumption of normal water supply to the affected customers, especially during this time of the pandemic when water is most essential for safeguarding public health,” Ty added.
In a separate statement, Maynilad said the interruptions were due to the reduced production of the PWTP because of a damaged sludge removal equipment paired with higher turbidity levels of raw water from the Laguna Lake.
“We wish to inform the public that repairs on the sludge removal equipment is now 75 percent complete. This has enabled us to increase water production to 91 percent and gradually reduce the number of affected customers or lengthen the supply availability duration,” the company said.
Maynilad added water service should revert to normal levels by end of January 2023 or earlier, “barring any complications.”
