Maynilad cuts down water production to 66% of customers

Water utility company Maynilad reduced its water production on Sunday due to increased sediment content levels of raw water from the Angat Dam.

"Water production at Maynilad’s La Mesa Treatment Plants 1 and 2 has been reduced since yesterday due to the high turbidity level of raw water...," Maynilad said in an advisory posted in its official Facebook account.

Turbidity level refers to the amount of sediment contained in the dam's water as soil erosion from the mountain side increased due to the heavy rains from enhanced southwest monsoon (Habagat).

"Normal turbidity in Angat Dam is at 300 nephelometric units (NTU). As of yesterday, this level has increased to 1,600 NTU, forcing Maynilad to reduce the output of its La Mesa Treatment Plants 1 and 2 by 400 million liters per day (MLD) so it can remove the increased sediments from the raw water."

Maynilad said about 850,000 accounts or 66% of the West Zone, especially those in elevated areas, will experience low pressure to no water and some discoloration in the water supply.

“We are continuously monitoring the raw water quality in Angat Dam and conducting the necessary system adjustments so we can return to normal water production levels at the soonest possible time,” Water Supply Operations head Ronaldo Padua said in the advisory.

Grace Laxa, Maynilad spokesperson, said in her interview on dzBB that they will return to their normal water production of 2,300 million liters per day when the turbidity levels in Angat Dam are back to normal.

Meanwhile, the water utility company said it will be deploying 54 water tankers to the affected areas to deliver potable water.

Laxa said affected residents can call the Maynilad hotline to request for a water tanker in their area. — Joseph Tristan Roxas/LBG, GMA News