A proposed Water Service Recovery Plan in the event a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hits Metro Manila has been prepared by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System in collaboration with Manila Water, Maynilad Water and government agencies such Environment and Local Government departments.
MWSS Administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco said that together with its two concessionaires Manila Water and Maynilad, a Disaster Preparedness and Contingency Management Plan has been put in place in the event a major disaster strikes like the dreaded 7.2 magnitude earthquake.
Both water companies also conduct company-wide regular earthquake drills.
Given the worst scenario when the Big One occurs at 9 p.m. where reservoirs are in their lowest supply level, 20 percent of water supply of the 60 operational reservoirs are reserved for fire suppression. Major damage on the upstream of water supply would affect 15 million of the NCR population. There would be 100 percent interruption in water distribution, low manpower availability of MWSS and its concessionaires, and dehydration would occur due to absence of safe drinking water.
According to Velasco, the Metro Manila Water Service Recovery Plan aims to ensure water supply using alternative sources to 80 percent of survivors within 10 days after the earthquake and to prevent the outbreak of water-borne diseases.
Preparedness for the Big One involves provision of operational guidelines in the use of alternative sources of water supply and water distribution as well as ensure the accountability and collaboration of all stakeholders in the implementation of the Service Recovery Plan.
“In the business of water and water security, there must be strategic foresight and plan and that no limit must be set on water supply sources given the growing population, and, God forbid the occurrence of the Big One in our lifetime,” Velasco said. At least 95.6 percent of Metro Manila’s potable water supply mostly come Angat, Ipo and La Mesa dams.
Aside from the dike strengthening on Angat Dam, Velasco expressed the need for additional water sources. “Water supply must be secured through additional water sources. We cannot depend solely on the Angat Dam especially when the ‘Big One’ or a 7.2 magnitude earthquake strikes,” he said.
MWSS is pursuing the Laiban and Kaliwa water dam projects to ensure adequate, steady and sustainable water supply for consumers in Metro Manila and nearby provinces in the next 25 to 50 years.
Meanwhile, about P42 billion has been invested by Maynilad Water Services, Inc. for water projects in the last five years to help address the problem of water security in its concession area.
It has been building new facilities such as additional pumping stations and reservoirs to improve the water supply system’s climate change resiliency and to create redundancies in the event of a disaster.
“We need to make these investments to enhance water reliability despite the threat of climate change, infrastructure limitations and the rising demand for water due to population growth and urbanization,” Maynilad president and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez said.
Aside from its Disaster Preparedness and Contingency Management Plan, Manila Water President Ferdinand M. de la Cruz has commenced the construction the two underground emergency reservoir projects to serve as potable water source in evacuation centers in the aftermath of disasters and calamities.
The building of multiple reservoirs in identified evacuation centers in 22 cities and municipalities in the Manila Water’s concession area is part of its commitment to ensure water service reliability. These reservoirs are earthquake-resilient and floor-resistant.
Located in Pateros and Cainta, the emergency reservoirs are designed to provide 50 cubic meters and 100 cubic meters, respectively, of potable water that will benefit up to 5,000 and 10,000 evacuees for up to three days, the length of time needed to rehabilitate damaged water lines. The construction of additional emergency reservoirs are on the pipeline.