Manila Water has completed its interconnection and pipe laying activities along Tandang Sora Avenue, Quezon City. The completion of 300 mm pipeline allowed up to 2.5 mld of water sharing between West Zone concessionaire, Maynilad, and Manila Water in the East Zone. Maynilad committed to share up to 50 million liters (MLD) of water per day which will help alleviate the water situation in the East Zone.

Currently, an average of 18 MLD out of the 50 MLD of water is being shared through the opening of valves located at various sites in Quezon City such as at the corner of West Avenue and Bulacan Street, in Greenville Subdivision, in Carmel 5 Subdivision, along E. Rodriguez Avenue, in Sauyo, and along Aurora Boulevard.  

The remaining 32 MLD of water will be shared by increasing the capacity of these cross-border pipes together with lines in 2 other identified locations in Taguig. Manila Water held joint inspections with concerned local and national government agencies in identified locations to determine construction and pipelaying activities to be done to allow for the cross-border sharing between the two concessionaires. Initial target completion of all cross-border projects is June this year but both companies are pushing for these activities to be completed by May, just in time for the energization of the new treatment plant from Maynilad.

Water availability in the East Zone remains at 99% with 8 hours or more of water service up to ground floor level. Even with the Cardona Water Treatment Plant in Rizal already producing from 50 to 56 MLD, supply deficit is still at 43 MLD, and the restoration of 24-hour service remains heavily dependent on the delivery of other sources such as these cross-border flows.

An additional 50 MLD yield is required from deepwells to add on to the 50 MLD from cross border flows, to fulfill Manila Water’s service obligation of 24/7 water supply to all its customers at the regulatory standard of 7 psi (pound per square inch), or pressure up to the ground floor level, as stated in its Concession Agreement.