San Jose del Monte City water production improves after crisis

MANILA, Philippines — San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan increased its average daily water production to 135.19 million liters per day (MLD) in August following the ongoing rehabilitation and corrective maintenance of its water facilities.

Metro Pacific Bulacan Water (MPBW) reported that the city’s average water production increased by 10.5% in August from the 122.36 MLD recorded under PrimeWater, its previous water utility provider.

READ: Water crisis grips 40,000 families in Bulacan

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It added that the combined production of Water Treatment Plants 1 and 2 increased to 55 MLD from the previous 40 MLD.

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San Jose del Monte was placed under a state of calamity in March after more than 40,000 households faced a water crisis due to poor water service delivery by PrimeWater, according to San Jose del Monte City Mayor Florida Robes.

“We will continue to closely monitor the rehabilitation and make sure the work continues until more families feel the improvement in their daily water service,” Robes said at a water forum on Aug. 26.

MPBW said it had completed more than 600 repairs of around 800 reported pipeline leaks left unrepaired by the previous water provider.

READ: City gov’t takeover of SJDMWD barred

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The current water provider also said it had reactivated three deep wells, providing 1,000 liters of water per day. It also found 15 locations for static water tanks “to augment supply in affected communities.”

Meanwhile, areas at higher elevations were provided with up to 22 water tankers during peak demand, sustaining up to 770 cubic meters of water per day, as well as 16 water trucks deployed by the local government.

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“The progress we have achieved in less than three months reflects our commitment to restore capacity and improve the reliability of the city’s water system. We are producing more water and reducing losses, but there is still significant work ahead. We will continue rehabilitating aging facilities and developing alternative water sources to support San Jose del Monte’s growing requirements,” MPBW President and CEO Andrew Pangilinan said.

Pipe-laying work from Tanawin water reservoirs to Igay Road in Barangay Sto. Cristo has also started, with around 15 MLD of treated water expected to be generated.

The reservoir is projected to support about 15,000 households in upland barangays and nearby areas in the city, MPBW said.

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A 960-meter pipeline project in Minuyan Proper is also set to be established, which will supply areas in Sapang Palay and United Minuyan, it added. /mcm