Maynilad to tap irrigation dams for water supply boost amid El Niño

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The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) has allowed Maynilad Water Services Inc. to source water from irrigation dams to mitigate the impact of El Niño.

GMA News' Bernadette Reyes reported in "24 Oras" on Wednesday that while the water levels in Angat Dam reached a record low last July, the MWSS said that it was also greatly replenished, adding that there was still time to collect water.

“Kahit papaano ay tumataas ang elevation ng Angat. Now we have 209.36 [meters] pataas pa yan, we are monitoring it every hour and hopefully by end of December, we will attain 214 para handang-handa tayo,” said MWSS Administrator Leonor Cleofas.

(Angat’s elevation is somewhat increasing. Now we have 209.36 [meters], and that is increasing, we are monitoring it every hour and hopefully by the end of December, we will attain 214 so that we are very prepared.)

With the MWSS allowing Maynilad to get water from irrigation dams, around 176,000 customers could benefit from this.

“Ang nangyari po sa Cavite, na-convert na po yung mga farmlands into subdivisions, kaya hindi na nagagamit ang NIA dams… Malaki po ang natipid namin at na-generate namin na water from reducing water losses, as much as 278 million liters per day… We have increased our resilience outside of Angat,” said Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito Fernandez said.

(What happened in Cavite, the farmlands have been converted to subdivisions, so the NIA dams are not being used… We have saved a lot from reducing water losses, as much as 278 million liters per day… We have increased our resilience outside of Angat.)

Maynilad is also using technology to turn wastewater into potable water. They are also getting supply from Laguna Lake.

Power supply

With the heat brought about by the El Niño phenomenon, Meralco is expecting a higher consumption rate for electricity since more people will use electric fans, air conditioning and other cooling devices.

Once demand spikes, this could affect prices at the Spot Market, where distribution facilities buy their additional supply.

“Pag tumaas yung pangangailangan, pag tumaas yung demand, kasabay na diyan yung pagtaas ng presyo,” Meralco spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga said.

(When the need rises, when the demand increases, that goes together with the increase of prices.)

Several businesses such as malls and factories may not have to cut into supply since there is an interruptible load program or ILP in Meralco. Whenever there is a shortage of supply, these large businesses will use their own generator instead. — Jean Mangaluz/BAP, GMA News