Consumers using excessive water to get warning from MWSS

MANILA – Consumers with excessive water consumption in Metro Manila and nearby provinces may receive warning notices from the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) amid the El Niño phenomenon.

During the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing on Thursday, MWSS Water and Sewerage Management Department Manager Patrick Dizon said they would investigate sudden spikes in residential bills.

"Kung napatunayan po na wala naman pong leak sa kanilang kabahayan ay wa-warning-an po natin sila (If it's proven that there's no leak in their households, we will warn them)," he said.

Besides warnings, they will also receive recommendations on how to conserve water and minimize consumption.

All other customers will also be notified of their usage trends.

"Makaka-receive po sila ng mga notices po sa kanilang mga billing, kung iyong mga kanilang naging konsumo po ay tumaas ba o bumaba (They will also receive notices in their billing if their consumption went up or down)," Dizon added.

These are part of the measures discussed with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Water Resources Management Office, he said.

The DENR earlier urged the public to apply the prescribed conservation action (PCA), which includes refraining from using garden hoses in watering plants, cleaning driveways, and washing cars, among others.

For its part, the MWSS is implementing low water pressure to avoid water wastage every 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Dizon assured consumers that these low water pressures will not result in unannounced service interruptions.

"Hindi naman po tayo mawawalan po ng tubig sa mga oras po na magka-conduct kami ng mga (We will not lose water during our conduct of) pressure management strategies, at hihina lamang po iyong atin pong pressure (the pressure will just decrease)," he said.

Dizon said both Maynilad and Manila Waters will announce any service interruption, which is typically done for regular maintenance and leak repairs.

On April 29, the DENR announced a full allocation to both irrigation and domestic supply despite the declining water level in the Angat Dam.

This is equivalent to sustaining 50 cubic meters per second for the MWSS and 24 CMS for the National Irrigation Administration.

As of Friday, the water elevation in the Angat Dam stood at 186.86 meters, slightly above the 180-meter minimum operating level. (PNA)