West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. is spending P1 billion in reactivating existing and in constructing new deep wells, totaling 60, that will produce up to 32 million liters per day (MLD) of additional water supply.
The company also suspended its scheduled water interruptions over the weekend as rainfall brought by Tropical Depression Dodong helped fill up the Ipo Dam.
Maynilad said the deep wells will be located in Caloocan, Quezon City, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Bacoor, Cavite City, Kawit and Imus .
It said the expected 32-MLD of additional supply will be enough to cater to the requirements of 175,000 customers.
Eight of these reactivated or new deep wells are operating. By the end of the month, Maynilad’s total yield from deep wells in 19 locations will ncrease to 12.38 MLD.
“The number of deep wells we can reactivate in the West Zone is limited because our proximity to Manila Bay makes groundwater reserves salty and unusable in some areas. However, we have found some viable deep wells and their yield will add to our water supply should El Niño further affect the availability of water from traditional sources,” said Ramoncito Fernandez, Maynilad president and chief executive officer, in a statement.
The company said it is closely coordinating with government units as well as homeowners’ associations so it can reopen more deep wells in the succeeding months.
Maynilad said while groundwater is not a sustainable source of water supply, the reactivation of deep wells is allowed during times of contingency such as during expected supply shortages due to El Niño.
In a separate statement, Maynilad said it suspended the scheduled daily water service interruptions in select locations in its franchise area over the weekend as improved water levels of Ipo Dam mitigated the effect of lower releases from Angat Dam.
Maynilad implemented daily service interruptions in portions of the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Manila, Navotas, Quezon City and Valenzuela as Angat Dam fell below the 180 meters normal operating level.
