La Mesa Dam. (File photo by JOAN BONDOC / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
To address possible water interruptions due to dwindling water supply from the La Mesa Dam reservoir, water concessionaire Manila Water announced on Thursday that its Rizal Water Supply Improvement Project due to be finished this year would be tapped to augment the demand of water consumers.
鈥淜ukuha tayo ng tubig mula sa Laguna de Bay, tapos nagtayo tayo ng treatment plant sa may Cardona sa Rizal, para 鈥榶ong mga taga Rizal instead na kumuha ng tubig sa Angat, dito na sila kukuha,鈥� Manila Water Corporate Communications Head Jeric Sevilla said in an interview with Radyo Inquirer.
鈥淲e are looking at the third or fourth quarter of this year, nasimulan na 鈥榶an two years ago pa, nakatakda 鈥榶ong completion ng proyekto by the latter part of this year,鈥� Sevilla said.
The Cardona plant is seen as a countermeasure to the dependence on water supply from the La Mesa Dam reservoir, which sources fresh water from Angat Dam.聽聽The La Mesa Dam is currently in a critical low level of 72 meters.
搁贰础顿:听Manila Water: Brace for service interruptions as La Mesa Dam hits critical level
It is also predicted to partially ease the demand from Angat Dam before the Kaliwa Dam in Tanay, Rizal is opened.
鈥淎ng problema lang 鈥榙on sa Kaliwa Dam ayon sa MWSS, ito ay maaaring maging online sa 2023 pa,鈥� Sevilla said.
But until the Cardona plant goes online, Sevilla pleads to Manila Water鈥檚 customers to conserve water to avoid widespread water interruption.
鈥淲ala pa po tayo sa panahon ng tag-ulan, at 鈥榶on lamang ang paraan para mag-refill ang dams natin, habang hinihintay po natin 鈥榶an, tayo po ay nananawagan sa ating mga customers ng responsable at wastong paggamit ng tubig,鈥� he added.鈥� /jpv