(FILE PHOTO)Metro Manila, Philippines— Maynilad Water Services has suspended service interruptions in some areas beginning Sunday as the rains brought by Tropical Storm Dodong have increased the water level in Ipo Dam.
“Pansamantang isususpinde ang scheduled daily water service interruptions sa ilang bahagi ng Caloocan, Malabon, Manila, Navotas, Quezon City at Valenzuela simula ngayon hanggang sa susunod na abiso,” the West Zone water concessionaire said in an advisory.
[Translation: Scheduled daily water service interruptions in some areas in Caloocan, Malabon, Manila, Navotas, Quezon City and Valenzuela are suspended from today until further notice.]
“Ang mga pag-ulan nitong nakalipas na araw dulot ng #DodongPH ay nakatulong mapataas ang water elevation sa Ipo Dam, dahilan kung bakit patuloy naming natatanggap mula sa portal ang 2,400 MLD (million liters per day) na aming kailangan para mapanatili ang normal na serbisyo sa kabila ng mas mababang water allocation mula sa Angat Dam,” it explained.
[Translation: The rains over the past few days due to #DodongPh have helped increase the water elevation in Ipo Dam, which have allowed us to continue getting 2,400 MLD per day from the portal, which we need to keep normal services despite the lower water allocation from Angat Dam.]
The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System earlier announced that water service interruptions of up to 12 hours could be experienced by around 591,000 customers beginning July 12 due to the decreasing water level in Angat Dam.
“Ibabalik lamang ang daily service interruptions kapag tumigil na ang water inflows sa Ipo Dam dala ng mga pag-ulan, at muling maramdaman ang kabuuang epekto ng 48 CMS (cubic meters per second) allocation. Magbibigay kami ng abiso bago ito ipatupad muli,”Maynilad said.
[Translation: Daily service interruptions will resume once water inflows at Ipo Dam have stopped, and the full effect of the 48 CMS allocation are again felt. We will release an advisory before this is enforced.]
Despite the suspension of service interruptions, the public is encouraged to continue water conservation efforts to extend supply.
As of 6 a.m. on Sunday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the water level in Ipo Dam was 100.02 meters. The normal level is 100 meters.
The water level in Angat Dam, meanwhile, was 179.06 meters. The “normal high level” is 210 meters while the “minimum operating level” is 180 meters.
