Metro Pacific Iloilo Water tackles El Niño challenge

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

Metro Pacific Iloilo Water (MPIW) is activating additional measures to secure water supply amidst the intensifying challenges posed by El Niño.

With the Transmission Line energization in the Leganes-Jaro Area and a commitment to further system maintenance, MPIW aims to augment its water provision by an additional 10 million liters daily starting March 23.

As El Niño continues to exert pressure on regional water resources, the company has observed a concerning drop in the Maasin Dam water levels, which affects its primary bulk water source’s ability to sustain the current production rate of 53 million liters daily. This is compounded by an additional 20 million liters supplied daily by another bulk water source.

In response to the potential water shortages forecasted as a result of El Niño, MPIW has initiated preparatory work for its Sahara® mobile leak detection system. This innovative approach is set to recover another 12 million liters per day, ensuring that MPIW’s customer base will have a reliable water supply up to the onset of the rainy season in June.

“Metro Pacific Iloilo Water’s proactive strategies, including our aggressive leak repair drive and synergizing efforts with bulk water suppliers, focus on the fortification and activation of alternative water sources,” according to Engr. Jedd Roxas, the Operations Division Head at MPIW, in a press statement.

Roxas further highlighted the strategic importance of these initiatives which are expected to stabilize the daily water supply to meet the demands of over 48,000 service connections.

The company, while facing the current drought season, remains committed to ensuring an average water production volume of 70-73 million liters per day, catering adequately to its extensive customer base.

MPIW also calls upon its customers and the wider public to engage in responsible and sustainable water usage. This appeal is part of a broader, earlier statement that reflects the firm’s dedication to conscientious resource management.

Furthermore, MPIW has publicized its plans for other significant projects aimed at the renewal and rehabilitation of its extensive pipe networks, with an ambitious budget set at Php 1.0 billion pesos.

Since establishing a joint venture agreement with the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) in 2019, MPIW has notably improved water availability for Iloilo City and its seven municipalities, benefiting a community of over 850,000 people.

The collaboration has led to an increase in water availability from 40 percent to 63 percent and a substantial reduction in water losses, dropping from 59 percent to a commendable 43 percent. These figures not only reflect MPIW’s commitment to service excellence but also underscore its role in fostering a resilient urban infrastructure capable of withstanding environmental stressors.