The seven-hour, off-peak water service interruptions (9 p.m. to 4 a.m.) that affect 56% of Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) customers this El Niño season will be maintained at current levels next week.

According to Maynilad Water Supply Operations Head, Engr. Ronaldo Padua, the rains that Typhoon Kabayan dumped over Central Luzon last weekend increased surface runoff at the Ipo watershed, thus sustaining water elevation at the Ipo Dam days after the typhoon has passed.

“Based on our latest simulation, the water runoff from Ipo watershed can still sustain our raw water requirements until next week. So our customers can rest assured that there will be no changes to our existing service level yet despite the reduced supply allocation from Angat Dam,” Padua said.

The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) has been steadily reducing water allocation from Angat Dam for Metro Manila, as the current strong El Niño is projected to last until middle of next year. From last month’s 38 cubic meters per second (CMS), NWRB reduced allocation to 36 CMS this October.

Maynilad has been implementing daily supply interruptions in an effort to preserve water elevation in Angat Dam, which is the main water supply source for Metro Manila.

Water from the much smaller Ipo Dam has been augmenting the reduced allocation from Angat Dam. Ipo Dam is shared by Maynilad and Manila Water.