BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – As the El Niño phenomenon rages, the main water distributor in this city will further improve its infrastructure to improve water service.
(MPIW) has allotted P1 billion for the renewal and rehabilitation of its pipe networks under its service area that also includes the nearby municipalities of Oton, Santa Barbara, Cabatuan, Maasin, San Miguel, Pavia, and Leganes in Iloilo Province.
“Since 2019, we have started pipe rehabilitation and expansion. The (COVID-19) pandemic, however, hampered some of these works. This year, we will be spending P1 billion for our pipe laying projects,” said Marie Joy Josue, corporate affairs and communications head of MPIW.
The pipe upgrade and rehabilitation would reduce water losses due to leaks, hence, an increase in water supply for consumers, Josue stressed.
Pipe leaks, if not repaired, cause water losses, resulting in low water pressure and service water interruptions across the city.
These leakages occur due to many factors, such as age and location of the pipe, rapid temperature changes, high water pressure, clogged lines, ground and soil movement, and loose water connectors, or broken pipes.
MPIW has also enhanced its strategies to cushion the impacts of the El Niño phenomenon on water resources in the metropolis.
These include system energization and use of technology for additional water supplies, conservation efforts, infrastructure improvements, and sustainable practices.
MPIW has energized its transmission line in the Leganes-Jaro service area and other water infrastructure system maintenance, which brings an additional 10 million liters per day, or about 4, 803 drums of water.
Such came after MPWI reported the water level in the Maasin dam, the firm’s main water source, is “rapidly declining.”
That caused its biggest bulk water supplier to maintain its current water supply production of an average of 53 million liters per day. MPIW said it has another bulk supplier delivering 20 million liters per day.
Likewise, MPIW said it started the preparatory activities for its Sahara® mobile leak detection system.
The modern leak-detection system will strengthen its ongoing leak repair driver and aims to recover another 12 million liters per day which will augment water supply to customers until the start of the rainy season in June.
“MPIW’s main strategy to cushion water shortages that can come as a result of El Niño focuses on aggressive leak repair activities and collaboration with its bulk water suppliers for the implementation, development, and energization of alternative and additional water sources,” said Engr. Jedd Roxas, MPIW operations division head.
With the water demand during the drought spell, MPIW expects these initiatives will help stabilize the water supply production to an average of 70-73 million liters per day for its 48,000 service connections.
The water distribution firm appealed to its customers for the responsible and sustainable use of water. MPIW serves seven Municipalities and Iloilo City with a population of about more than 850,000.
Since forming a joint venture agreement with the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) in 2019, the city’s primary water distributor has seen water availability rise from 40 percent to 63 percent.
MPIW said it has improved system efficiency and reliability by reducing water losses from 59 percent to 43 percent.
Last March 20, Metro Pacific Water started rationing water in certain areas in Iloilo City and nearby towns amid the dry spell caused by the El Niño phenomenon.
The water rationing will affect water service across Iloilo City, Sta Barbara, and portions of Pavia.
“This is to help arrest the rapid decline of the water level at Maasin Dam, due to limited inflows from rainfall,” the statement read.
The water schedule came as the water distribution firm admitted that the water level in Maasin Dam is at 93.86 meters and is “rapidly declining due to the effects of El Nino.”
“The prolonged absence of rain in the past weeks, and the continuous increase of temperature results in low bulk water supply production,” it said.
The MPIW urged the public to use water responsibly and conscientiously and conserve water during their water supply schedule./PN