Manila Water to boost supply flow as metro combats virus

Manila Water Co. Inc. has installed 63 line boosters in the East Zone to bring supply to areas that are on high ground or are farthest from their central distribution system as the high-demand summer months approach.

The Ayala group subsidiary is also working on the development of at least 30 deep wells, to add to the 37 deep wells that are already helping shore up raw water supplies.

“This (installation of line boosters) will further increase water pressure and availability to all customers of Manila Water especially at this time when water is badly needed by households to keep the COVID-19 (disease caused by the new coronavirus) from spreading,” the company said in a statement.

According to Manila Water, its concession area is characterized by rolling terrain where several communities are located at high and far areas and require a boost in pressure to reach them.

Most of the line boosters, a total of 31, were installed in Quezon City. There are seven installed in Makati and Mandaluyong, five in Taguig, one in Marikina, three in San Juan, two in Parañaque and three in Pasig. In Rizal, there are nine in Antipolo and two in Rodriguez.

Manila Water said these line boosters would provide adequate water supply and ensure availability for the more than 1.3 million households in the East Zone.

The 37 deep wells, meanwhile, have been delivering 46.21 million liters of raw water daily.

As of 6 a.m. on Friday, the water level at Angat Dam was at 199.38 meters above sea level (masl), more than 19 meters above the dam’s minimum operating level of 180 masl.

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) said it would ensure the Angat and Ipo dams in Bulacan as well as water conveyance systems like aqueducts were adequately staffed.

This was “to ensure the availability and delivery of water supply, considering the importance of water in undertaking preventive measures against the spread of coronavirus,” the MWSS said in a separate statement.

The agency also said it has “endorsed the exemption” of key employees of its concessionaires, particularly Manila Water and Maynilad Water Services Inc., from travel restrictions.

The endorsement covers the direct employees of the two companies as well as those of their contractors.