Ensuring West Zone water supply - Maynilad Water … · Common health problems during El Niño 15...

Ensuring West Zone water supplyMaynilad acts to avoid water shortage during El Niño

2 ripples March 2010 3Maynilad Water Services, Inc.

Editorial Note Features

Editorial Director : Cherubim G. OcampoEditor in Chief : Jennifer R. CasipitManaging Editor : Rosmon M. TuazonAssociate Editors : Mitchie M. Arcaina Reggie M. Indon

Correspondents: Paulo M. Catibayan, Tita V. Mancera, Sisenando T. Lampa, Yolanda C. Lucas, Diosdado N. Samia, Rodrigo O. Yabut, Elizabeth S. David, Roan M. Cortez, Lolit M. Lota, Tess M. Artiaga, Victorino M. Gamboa, Ryan B. Jamora

Circulation Manager : Grace A. Laxa

Photographer : Federico L. Juane

Ripples is the official publication of Maynilad Water Services, Inc. for Maynilad employees and friends. Ripples welcomes contributions, letters, photos, and artwork for publication. However, these materials become Ripples property and are subject to editorial changes. Send contributions to the Corporate Affairs and Public Relations Department, 2/F Maynilad Bldg., MWSS Compound, Katipunan Road, Balara, Quezon City; Tel. Nos. 981-3451 to 52; Email: [email protected] and [email protected]

Weathering El Niño

According to Rodrigo Yabut, Head of Maynilad’s El Niño Task Force, daily valving operations are being done to regulate flow and pressure in the network, which changed with the reduced volume of water. More than 400 Pressure Regulating Valves (PRVs) in various points have also been reset based on high and low-demand hours to balance pressure in the system.

The use of pumping stations and reservoirs are being maximized by refilling reservoirs during off-peak hours when pressure is high. Interconnection works and installation of more valves have also been programmed to equalize pressure and provide better control in critical areas.

Through proper valve adjustments, leaks can be reduced by preventing pressure buildup in the system while excess water is diverted and stored at the reservoirs.

Reduced rainfall and high temperatures in recent months have led to the steady decrease of water levels in Angat Dam, where 97% of the West Zone water supply is sourced.

The decline prompted the National Water Resources Board to cut down its raw water supply allocation to the Metropolitan Waterworks

By Rosmon Tuazon

Maynilad has earmarked P314 million for an intensified leak repair program, which aims to recover 92 million liters per day (MLD). A total of 2,965 leaks have been scheduled for repair by the Central Non-Revenue Water, with leak repair teams increased from 60 to 105 (see related story on page 6 to 7).

Maynilad has also put 29 deepwells on stand-by for immediate reactivation once the need to augment its raw water supply from Angat becomes apparent. Operations of in-line boosters have also been extended, and new pumps will be constructed in areas prone to supply reduction.

Sustained water quality monitoring will also be done since low water pressure increases the possibility of contaminants intruding in the system through illegal connections, leaks and illegal boosters. Continues

Every day, we hear of news about El Niño and how it has drastically affected various industries and areas in the Philippines. Fortunately, Maynilad is now better equipped and capitalized to address the effects of this weather phenomenon.

This issue of Ripples focuses on the company’s initiatives—from leak repairs, to deep well reactivations, to pumping station and reservoir construction works—to ease the impact of El Niño on our customers. Other topics of interest are also discussed so readers and their family members are better prepared for El Niño.

Challenges bring out the best in people. And with everyone’s cooperation we can all safely weather the challenge that is El Niño.

Cheers,

and Sewerage System and correspondingly to the two private concessionaires.

To minimize the immediate impact and possible effect of the reduction on its customers, Maynilad started implementing a number of mitigating measures as early as January this year.

Manage pressure in distribution system

Step up supply and leak repair

Installation of a Pressure Regulating Valve under the Total Pipe Replacement Project in Sampaloc, Manila.

Maynilad CNRW personnel inspect the repaired leak near Barangay Talipapa Hall along Quirino Highway.

FEATURES3 Ensuring West Zone water supply4 WestZonereconfiguredfor better customer service5 El Niño phenomenon: A closer look6 Impact of El Niño on Maynilad operations9 Arellano, Espiritu and Monoso win the 2010 Golden Meter Awards10 How to use water responsibly

PROFILE8 The lady on the lookout for leaks

NEWS13 PRSP honors Samahang Tubig Maynilad13 Maynilad discusses NRW in 31st PAWD National Convention17 Maynilad management, supervisors seal new CBA17 Potable water reaches Purok 7, Parañaque thru ‘bayanihan’

18 Maynilad, Smart launch Text Tubig19 Maynilad partners with USAID, Rotary Int’l.19 Maynilad sewage plant passesIMSrecertification

REGULAR COLUMNS12 Doing Right Protecting the environment starts with us14 Doc Ric Says Common health problems during El Niño15 NRW Watch The story behind Binondo’s NRW16 Dong’s Corner Water leaks, Water wastage18Inflow,Outflow How I am preparing for El Niño20 The Men and Women of Maynilad Environmental Management

IN THIS ISSUEMarch 2010


Features

Augmenting not Rationing

Educating the public

Maynilad is acquiring and preparing equipments that will enhance its capability to augment water supply in areas that will be hardest hit by El Niño. These equipments include water tankers, stationary water tanks and portable water treatment equipments.

If the reduced water pressure results in less than six hours of water coverage, these hard-hit areas will be supplied additional water through Maynilad’s stationary water tanks. The tanks will be refilled at least three times a day by the company’s water tankers or contracted service providers.

Maynilad is working double time to inform the public on the extent of El Niño’s impact on West Zone water supply. Through print ads, flyers, streamers, text blasts, etc., customers are also advised to use water responsibly and report illegal connections and leaks to Maynilad Hotline 1626.

The Central Non-Revenue Water team also initiated dialogues with local government units and government offices such as MMDA and DPWH to secure their full support for Maynilad’s intensified leak repair program.

With its modernized infrastructure, proactive mitigation measures and active support of government and the public, Maynilad is confident that it can weather the negative effects of El Niño.

The reconfiguration will result in the creation of four water

districts—North, Central A, Central B, and South—and the reduction of the 16 existing BAs into 12 following the merging of some offices.

The 12 new BAs are: North Caloocan, Valenzuela-Novaliches, Fairview-Commonwealth (North District); Malabon/Navotas,

West Zone reconfigured for better customer service

Roosevelt-Quirino, South Caloocan (Central A District); South Manila-Pasay/Makati, Sampaloc, Tondo (Central B District); and Cavite, Muntinlupa, Parañaque (South District).

Maynilad president Rogelio Singson said this new structure will allow the company to be customer friendly, as business offices become more

accessible and convenient for customers. “These changes will also permit us to have a faster response time on leak repairs, investigation orders, and new and additional water service connections.”

With the whole concession area reconfigured into hydraulic districts, there is strategic allocation and distribution of water supply from a common source per district. This makes possible the establishment of profit centers, as cost is efficiently allocated and operational savings are generated.

March 1 saw the implementation of a new setup for Business Area (BA) Operations as the West Zone was reconfigured into water districts to allow for better management of water supply.

Static Water Tanks such as this one will help augment supply in hard-hit areas.

Informing customers is an integral part of Maynilad’s campaign.

El Niño phenomenon: A closer lookBy Jennifer Casipit

Since surface waters in this area stay warm, the normal upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water from below is displaced, causing a sharp decline in fish population and lesser catch for fishermen.

We all know that El Niño is an anomaly that reduces rainfall and consequently affects water supply for Metro Manila. But what is it really? What processes cause the phenomenon and what are its overall effects?

To explore the answers, let’s take a look at the Pacific Ocean.

The phenomenon is first felt when trade winds that usually blow toward Asia from South America weaken. Since there is hardly any wind to cool surface water in the eastern Pacific and restrict warm water in the west, a general warming of the equatorial Pacific Ocean occurs.

The phenomenon has been dubbed “El Niño” by Peruvian anchovy fishermen who observed the warming of ocean currents along the coast of South America around the Christmas season. A condition showing reversed characteristics of the El Niño has been given the contrasting feminine name of “La Niña.”

El Niño is felt in other parts of the world due to variations in atmospheric pressure resulting from the warming of the tropical Pacific. This interaction between ocean and atmosphere variations is called El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). In the Philippines, the phenomenon is associated with drought conditions following either a delayed onset or early termination of the rainy season.

While there is nothing we can do when these anomalies occur, it pays to be aware and prepared when they do.

REFERENCES: Philippine Institute for Development Studieshttp://kidlat.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/cab/enso.htm

Maynilad Acts... from page 3

7Maynilad Water Services, Inc.6 ripples March 2010

Features

“Our raw water supply will be steadily reduced beginning January until June so we will

implement mitigating measures such as pressure management, deepwell reactivation, and intensified NRW reduction drive. Nonetheless, varying impacts on water supply and pressure will be felt by customers, especially those located on high ground and on the tail-end of the distribution system,” said Rodrigo Yabut, head of Maynilad’s El Niño Task Force.

Maynilad is also coordinating regularly with concerned government agencies and executing a detailed action plan to address the effects of a moderate to severe El Niño scenario (see related story on page 3 to 4).

The worst El NiñoYabut noted that Maynilad is now more prepared to deal with a dry spell than it was in 1998, when the worst-ever El Niño hit the country.

By Jennifer Casipit

Impact of El Niño on Maynilad operations

The oceanic anomaly known as El Niño—with its manifestations in the Philippines of less rainfall, soil degradation, and low food production—is a dreaded condition that happens every five to nine years. For Maynilad, it’s an inevitable occurrence that must be prepared for so water supply to customers is not unduly affected.

“Maynilad’s water allocation was reduced by as much as 40 percent at the height of that year’s El Niño. Water quality monitoring was very intense and sustained. We did not have the Umiray water source at that time, so you can imagine how serious the problem was.”

Maynilad has since increased its booster stations to 12 (from only six in 2007) and rehabilitated four more reservoirs, improving capacity to store water and optimize distribution. With mini and inline boosters up to 34 from just 19, more pockets of elevated areas can access water despite supply reduction.

The La Mesa Treatment Plants are now also equipped to remove manganese in raw water, which occurs when soil in the watershed erodes with the onset of the rainy season following El Niño.

Massive leak repairAiding these improvements is Maynilad’s intensified leak repair program, which has been given a boost with the granting of a 60-day moratorium on issuances that restrict the immediate implementation of leak repairs.

“This directive from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will allow us to deploy our contractors faster. And in case we encounter a running leak, we can immediately send out our Leak Detection Team to pinpoint the leak source,” said Yolanda Lucas, head of Central Non-Revenue Water’s Engineering and Construction.

This program will enable Maynilad to recover around 40 million liters per day (MLD) of water, which can help offset reductions in raw water supply. As of February 2010, Maynilad has resolved 6,113 leaks (averaging 201 resolved leaks a day) compared to only 2,089 in the same period last year.

Good newsMaynilad is hastening the construction of the Putatan Water Treatment Plant, which is scheduled to produce an initial 50 MLD by May. It is also working on the commissioning of its new Villamor pumping station by April.

The Villamor facility has a reservoir that can store up to 10 million liters of water. It also has the capacity to pump water to high areas in the southern part of the concession.

Once operational, these facilities will help mitigate the effects of El Niño, as it will further enhance the company’s capacity to store water during off-peak hours and then pump the supply when customer demand is higher.

Maynilad CNRW Engineering and Construction head Yolanda Lucas, NDCC chairman and Defense secretary Norberto Gonzales, and MWSS administrator Jose Diosdado Allado inspect the test pit for the repair of the 400-mm diameter mainline along EDSA in Pasay City last January 19, 2010.

Themicrofiltrationandreverseosmosismembranesrecentlyinstalled inside the Putatan facility, which are used in the finalwatertreatmentpriortostorageinthereservoir.

Contractors hard at work in the building of Putatan water treatment plant.

Pump house of Maynilad’s soon-to-be-completed Villamor Pumping Station.

7Maynilad Water Services, Inc.


The lady on the lookout for leaks

Profile

By Jennifer Casipit

8 ripples

It’s become a habit—one that stems from the “eat, sleep, dream NRW” motto they have at the Central

Non-Revenue Water (CNRW) office. And since Yoly heads the massive leak repair program that Maynilad launched to mitigate the effects of El Niño, one can imagine how great the pressure must be on this petite, 46-year-old engineer.

“In the last six months, we did 1,977 leak repairs per month. But now, we are tasked to bring that up to 3,000. Setting that kind of target for leak repair activities is quite aggressive,” she notes.

Not one to back down from a challenge, Yoly has been working closely with officials of MWSS and the National Disaster Coordinating Council to win the cooperation of local government units (LGU).

Convincing LGUs, she admits, is not easy, which is why she’s grateful for the moratorium suspending permit application for 60 days. Also, the presence of military personnel during excavations will help deter resistance from unsupportive groups.

No resources have been spared for this undertaking. “We tapped 30 contractors to implement leak repair throughout the West Zone, and 34 project inspectors were deployed to monitor their work,” she reports. “In addition, the NRW Operations of our Business Areas were instructed to assist by validating the accuracy of

Wherever she is, Yolanda Lucas often finds herself unconsciously looking at streets and sidewalks for any sign of a leak.

reported leaks. The Leak Detection Team is augmenting our force by further locating leak sources.”

The pace has been hectic but Yoly is not new to this kind of stress. She recalls a time when she monitored an interconnection project for three straight days without sleep and granted a phone interview to DZBB’s Mike Enriquez immediately afterward.

Despite the demands of her job, Yoly believes that one must not forget oneself. So she spends some downtime at the spa whenever she can.

She also gains strength from her family. Yoly is married to a fellow engineer and they have two kids in college, whom they prefer to treat as barkadas. “Our ritual of praying together at the start and at the end of the day binds us the most,” Yoly shares.

Yoly Lucas

Norberto Gonzales (right) and Jose Diosdado Allado get a thoroughbriefingofMaynilad’sleakrepairactivityfromYoly.

There are few, though, whose performance reach an even

higher level—Excellence.

As Corporate Human Capital and Organization Development head Roy Evalle puts it, “Excellence takes a different breed. It calls for innovators, creative thinkers and honest stewards of the business. In a world of intense competition and instant imitation, innovation needs to be on a big scale. Only then will it be difficult to copy, be differentiated, sustain a price premium and shape markets.”

The nominees and awardees of the 2010 Golden Meter belong to this rare breed of individuals.

Arellano, Espiritu and Monoso win the 2010 Golden Meter AwardsBy Reggie Indon

There are many high-performing employees in Maynilad. And in the course of their daily work, they inspire others to also perform well in their areas of expertise. In effect, these employees not only contribute to the company’s bottom line, they also stir the imagination and aspirations of their peers.

Nine nominees were recognized in this year’s awarding ceremony, with three of them winning the much-coveted Golden Meter. These year’s awardees were Francisco Arellano (Legal and Regulatory Affairs), Roel Espiritu (CHCOD) and Korina Monoso (Information Technology Services). Each of the three winners brought home a certificate of recognition, a cash prize, and a Golden Meter trophy.

Other nominees for the Golden Meter were Jhonegil Ascan (Central NRW Management), Aurora Canape (Finance), Chris Jensen Chua (Sewerage and Sanitation), Eduardo Del Mundo (Business Area Operations), Anthony Sampiano

(Technical Operations and Program Management), and Aura Sanchez (Logistics).

When asked how he felt about getting the award, Arellano said, “It is a sweet testament and recognition of my continuing service in the company, which I helped establish in 1997, and in the water industry as well. It is a realization of my personal advocacy on quality, environment, health and safety—ensuring that the company’s mission on the same are made integral parts of our business processes.”

To all our nominees and awardees, congratulations and job well done.

Maynilad’s Golden Meter awardees for 2010 (L-R) Arellano, Monoso and Espiritu“In the last six months, we did 1,977 leak repairs

per month. But now, we are tasked to bring that up to 3,000. Setting that kind of target for leak repair activities is quite aggressive,”

Features


Features

By Jennifer Casipit

Like any resource, water should be managed and protected to ensure its continued supply. With or without El Niño, everyone must do their part in making sure that our water supply is not wasted or improperly used.

In this spread, we share some practical tips on how to use water responsibly. We hope our readers will follow these tips so they can help protect our precious water supply—while maintaining the good health and sanitation of their families.

HOW TO USE WATER RESPONSIBLY

IN THE KITCHEN

u Wash dishes or clean fruits and vegetables in a basin filled with water. The rinse water can be used for other purposes, like flushing the toilet.

u If you must wash dishes or food with running water, turn on the tap only when you are ready to rinse.

u Do not thaw frozen food under running water. Plan ahead and defrost in the refrigerator or in a single pot of potable water instead.

GARAGE

u Using a running hose to clean your car wastes about 400 liters of water. This volume can be trimmed down to 100 liters if you use a pail of soapy water.

u If possible, park near the garden when you wash your car. This way, you can water your lawn and clean your car at the same time.

u Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway and garage.

IN THE BATHROOM

u Use a pail and dipper (tabo) to lessen water usage during bath time.

u Do not use the toilet as a trashcan for small items like napkins and cigarette butts. This will prevent unnecessary flushing, not to mention clogging.

u Turn off the water while soaping, shampooing, or brushing teeth.

LAUNDRYu Wash clothes only when you have a full load of dirty laundry.

u Avoid wearing clothing that needs washing separately, e.g. dark colors or clothing with embellishments such as small beads and/or sequins.

u When washing by hand, do not allow the basin to overflow while collecting water for the laundry.

GARDEN

u Water slowly to avoid run-off and to ensure the soil absorbs the water.

u Do not over-water your plants. It’s not only wasteful, it can also cause plant leaves to turn yellow.

u Water during the early hours of the day to reduce water loss due to evaporation.

12 ripples March 201012 ripples March 2010 13Maynilad Water Services, Inc. 13Maynilad Water Services, Inc.

Scientists and experts may not agree but for many, global

warming and its effects are alarmingly real. From warmer global temperature to decreased rainfall, global warming is viewed as the reason for the extreme changes in our weather and climate.

Everyone should do their part in minimizing the impact of global warming. We do not have to give up our cars and appliances or live in caves, but we do have to take more proactive actions.

Understand how your ordinary daily activities create carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Carbon Footprinting is a method used to calculate the total greenhouse gases produced to directly or indirectly support human activities and is expressed in equivalent tons of CO2. In a nutshell, the formula computes how many tons of greenhouse gases an individual or organization produces in a year and pinpoints which particular activities are the major contributors.

Compute your carbon footprint. You may be surprised with the results. Activities you thought are completely harmless to the environment could turn out to be a major contributor to climate change. Visit the website www.wwf.org.ph and determine how you compare with the global average for an individual.

Reduce dependence on activities that contribute to your carbon footprint. There will always be alternatives that are less harmful to the environment.

Reduce, reuse and recycle. We have all heard this slogan. Now let’s put it into practice: stop impulse

By Luis Mauricio Lerma

DOING RIGHT

Column

purchases, buy good quality clothes that will last a long time, use a bike instead of a car for short distances, keep better track of groceries bought to prevent food waste, find some use for items you would normally throw away, etc. Make a conscious effort to pursue a greener lifestyle.

Support Maynilad’s efforts to protect the environment. Management has embarked on a noble effort to reduce our company’s carbon footprint. A series of

Maynilad’s community development program

provides poor communities access to clean water by working on issues that hinder them from being connected to Maynilad water lines, such as right-of-way conflicts, land disputes, limited finances of residents, and prevalence of water retailer syndicates.

The Anvil Awards recognizes the most effective and innovative public relations programs in the country.

PRSP honors Samahang Tubig MayniladBy Mark Isaiah David

Maynilad recently won an Anvil Award of Excellence for its “Samahang Tubig Maynilad” program, which aims to transform divided neighborhoods into an empowered community so that residents in the area can have access to safe, reliable, and affordable water that will improve their quality of life.

In photo (L-R) are Maynilad’s Corporate Social Responsibility supervisor Lourdes Rivera, CSR head Risse Jose, President Rogelio Singson, and Corporate Affairs and Public Relations head Cherubim Ocampo.

The Public Relations Society of the Philippines, the country’s premier PR organization, has been granting the Anvil Awards to deserving programs for 45 years.

News

12 ripples

Keep to the straight and narrow with the help of our Internal Audit’s counsel on ethical behavior at work.

The event theme was “Water District: Facing the Challenge

of Non-Revenue Water Reduction.” With El Niño phenomenon currently putting a strain on the supply of drinking water, the convention focused on strategies for water

Maynilad discusses NRW in 31st PAWD National Convention

loss management; methods, techniques and technologies on leak detection; water pilferage issues and solutions; and NRW performance benchmarking.

Maynilad’s Central NRW Planning head Sherwin Mendoza delivered a presentation titled “Maynilad NRW Strategies: Then and Now,” which focused on the company’s experiences and approaches on reducing NRW over the past years under new sponsors Metro Pacific Investments Corporation and DMCI Holdings, Inc.

Meanwhile, Maynilad Leak Detection head Rolixto Jodieres Jr. presented

the company’s plan to use within its concession area the Sahara Leak Detection Equipment. The Philippines is the first Asian country to use this state-of-the-art technology, which allows pipe inspections while mainlines remain in service by inserting a sensor into any tapping point of two inches or larger.

The two presentations attracted hundreds of participants, with the Sahara Leak Detection talk becoming an instant hit with several local water districts.

Other Miya consultant presenters were Roland Liemberger on “The International NRW Assessment Framework”; Mary Ann Dickinson on “The Need for Standardized NRW Training and Certification”; and Mai Flor on “Risk Mitigation and Financing.”

Maynilad and its technical partner, Miya, discussed the challenges of Non-Revenue Water (NRW) during the 31st Philippine Association of Water District (PAWD) National Convention held last February 17-19, 2010 at Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila.

Engineers set up the Sahara’s insertion tube in preparation for a leak detection activity.

seminars will be conducted in the coming months to prepare a core team that will take charge of taking an inventory of our CO2 emissions. The end result: Continuous reduction of emissions not only by Maynilad but also its suppliers, contractors, and other stakeholders.

By reducing our carbon footprint, we are giving our planet a better chance to recover and allow future generations—our children—to live long, healthy lives.

Protecting the environment starts with us


Dear Doc Ric:All this talk about El Niño is making me worry about my family’s health. What diseases are common during this season, and how do I protect my family?—Concerned Mom

Dear Concerned Mom:I am sure that by now you are quite familiar with the abnormal weather pattern characteristic of El Niño. In our country, its manifestation is an extreme rise in temperature with little rainfall, which causes the reduction of water supply for households and farmlands.

The dry spell and resulting heat have a great impact on one’s health—a fact that not many people take into account.

Here are some El Niño health risks and precautionary measures to protect your family.

By Ricardo Jose Miranda, M.D. By Manuel Caldit

DOC RIC SAYS NRW Watch

Column Column

Got some health and wellness concerns? Our resident medical expert, Doc Ric, will help you address these concerns to keep you in excellent shape.

Common health problems during El Niño

14 ripples

The story behind Binondo’s NRW

Reduction of water loss is an ongoing battle for the company.

Get blow-by-blow accounts of the developments straight from

Maynilad’s CNRW engineers.

After all pipes were replaced, however, NRW in the area

remained high at 37 percent. Meanwhile, 34 percent of the 7,094 total accounts remained unmeasured.

A directive was issued in August 2009 to bring this figure down to below 30 percent. This entailed doing a thorough assessment of the network, starting with an audit of the 800-mm service pipe traversing Binondo to identify losses in the primary line.

Finding none, diagnostic efforts were focused inside the established District Metered Areas (DMA), where all inflow and outflow of supply must be known. When all four DMAs in Binondo passed the Zero Pressure Test, the team conducted walk-the-line activities.

Plugging leaksThe team did not leave any stones unturned—we fixed leaks, cut

Aside from being a historical site and a bustling business district, Binondo is also the site of a Maynilad total pipe replacement project that was completed in March 2007—one of the biggest capital expenditures of the company at the time, with NRW expected to go below 10 percent.

illegal connections, and did valve verifications at night. After repairing two strong leaks, NRW inside one DMA went down from 38 to 32 percent. Follow-up operations brought this down further to 25 percent.

Step-testing was also done to localize leaks. One such activity almost got cancelled due to heavy rains and floods. But for the Tondo Leak Detection Team of Paulo Balagso, there was no turning back because a delay would prove costly. So after identifying two high-NRW segments, they used a

leak correlator and Aqua Scope to pinpoint the leak and repair it. This reduced NRW in another DMA to 29 from 40 percent.

For the remaining DMA, the South Leak Detection core team conducted what was probably the first “Acoustic Noise Logging activity” ever done in the country. This helped identify four underground leaks. Along with the closing of two illegals, the repair of these leaks led to NRW drop from 46 to 34 percent.

Still short of the target, the Tondo BA conducted valving operations to reduce nighttime pressure from 33 to 16 psi. This continued until the pressure regulating valves were commissioned, which made possible the reduction of NRW in Binondo to 20.4 percent—equivalent to a recovery of 2.62 million liters per day.

Much still has to be done in Binondo but this accomplishment marks a great advance in the fight against water loss, as well as in the teamwork of the BA and CNRW.

Another leak is found and immediately repaired.

AcontractorfixinganundergroundleakdetectedbytheSahara.

An engineer braves the storm to close valves during step testing

1. Diseases related to water scarcity or shortage a. Diarrhea and Cholera b. Urinary Tract Infections c. Skin diseases

2. Diseases related to contamination a. Risk of paralytic shellfish poisoning (seafood may be contaminated by red tide blooms) b. Diarrhea

3. Disorders associated with high temperatures (hot and humid weather) a. Heat cramps, heat exhaustion, exertional heat injury and heat stroke b. Dehydration c. Skin diseases (prickly heat. sunburn) d. Upper respiratory infection

• Use water wisely. Prioritize household activities that are critical to the health and sanitation of your family. • Protect water sources from contamination through proper storage• Drink more fluids

• Be mindful of shellfish bans following red tide• Exercise caution in your food intake• Maintain good personal hygiene (proper hand washing, use of clean utensils)

• Ensure proper waste disposal • Drink more fluids• Avoid tea, coffee, soda, and alcohol• Wear light clothing• Avoid strenuous physical activity• Limit excessive exposure to the sun, or spend time outdoors only after using sunscreen• Use protective clothing and ultraviolet-protected sunglasses• Maintain good personal hygiene• Take in more Vitamin C

Health Risk Precautions


DONG’S CORNER

Column

With or without El Niño, we should all do our share in preventing water wastage. One of the best ways to do this is to identify and fix leaks at home. Not only will this conserve a precious resource, it will also prevent water supply contamination and excessive water billing.

Aside from being a friendly Maynilad Zone Specialist, Dong is also a regular handyman at home. In this column, he will share useful, practical tips on how you can address your basic household plumbing concerns.

Water leaks, Water wastage

Maynilad management, supervisors seal new CBABy Rosmon Tuazon

News

Potable water reaches Purok 7, Parañaque thru ‘bayanihan’

Through the intervention of the National Conciliation

and Mediation Board (NCMB), management and union settled the unresolved economic provisions in the CBA, which earlier resulted in a deadlock and compelled MWSA to file a notice of strike last January. Later reconsideration by both parties, however, prevented the protest action from proceeding.

Officials of the two parties formally signed the CBA last February 22, 2010 at the Maynilad Head Office. Among the provisions are a one-time lump sum of P68,000, salary increase of P1,500 in 2010 and another P1,500 in 2011, and mid-year bonuses of P16,000 in 2010 and P17,000 in 2011 for the company’s 240 supervisors.

In a statement, MWSA president Bertha Estimo stressed that the CBA is a reflection of mutual support between the management and employees. As a way of giving back

Maynilad management and the Maynilad Water Supervisors Association (MWSA) successfully sealed the 2010-2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) after arriving at mutually beneficial terms that would allow the company to improve the compensation packages of its supervisors without compromising its financial standing.

to the company, she challenged all union members to compete with themselves in order to attain excellence at work.

Meanwhile, Maynilad president Rogelio Singson reiterated that management has always acted in good faith when dealing with MWSA. “Our actions have always been on the premise that any agreement on the compensation package should be based on financial prudence—one that we can afford and sustain,” he said.

Singson said the financial factors taken into account during the CBA negotiations include the 2010 water tariff adjustment of only 0.2% based on the Consumer Price Index, the significant capital investments in the past three years that the company has yet to recover, the adverse effect of El Niño on operations, and the additional CAPEX fund needed to reduce Non-Revenue Water and further improve service levels.

True to the Filipino adage “Kapag may hirap, may ginhawa”, around 600

families from Purok 7 in Brgy. Moonwalk, Parañaque City now have reliable and affordable water supply after toiling side-by-side with Maynilad workers during project implementation.

Volunteer residents from the Purok 7 communities of Perville, Vasquez Compound, Rodriguez Compound, Bicol Region, Riverside 1 and Riverside 2 did the excavation and backfilling of trenches for around 700 meters of new pipes, while Maynilad’s Parañaque Business Area performed pipe-laying, service connection and restoration works.

The residents also helped settle a right-of-way issue that threatened to shelve the project. According to Parañaque BA zone head Edgardo Dimapilis, nearby Multinational Village initially refused to allow a pipe to pass through the subdivision that would connect Purok 7 to the 200-mm line along Multinational Avenue.

Through ardent appeals of the residents and the intervention of Parañaque mayor Florencio Bernabe Jr., however, Multinational Village eventually gave its nod to the right-of-way.

Before the project, residents of Purok 7 had no choice but to rely on water deliveries and deepwells for their daily needs. Now, they enjoy potable water flowing out of their taps.

“They also save as much as P1,700 a month because our water is more affordable,” Dimapilis added.

Meanwhile, the residents’ assistance allowed Maynilad to cut back on labor costs and provide water to the area years ahead of schedule.

With the success of this bayanihan project, the Parañaque BA is looking to implement a similar program in Castañeda Compound and other adjacent communities in Parañaque City.

By Rosmon Tuazon

MayniladandMWSAofficialsduringthesigningofthe2010-2011CBAforsupervisors last February 22, 2010.

If you find a leak after doing the above steps, you should immediately contact a trusted plumber to have the leak repaired.

If the leak occurs before the water meter, call the Maynilad Hotline 1626 for free and quick leak resolution.

The contents of this column are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be interpreted as technical or professional advice. Readers should contact a trusted professional for their specific plumbing problem.

Step 3Read the meter again after 5 to 10 minutes. If the meter reading changed, there may be an underground leak in your house.

TO FIND OUT IF YOU HAVE A LEAK, DO THE FOLLOWING:

Step 1Close all water outlets and appliances that consume water.

Step 2Observe your water meter. Write down the current reading.

Aside from underground leaks, another common cause of water wastage and high water consumption are toilet leaks.

A leaky toilet wastes hundreds of gallons of water every week. However, such leaks are often hard to detect since they are not immediately visible.

TO FIND OUT IF YOU HAVE A TOILET LEAK, DO THE FOLLOWING:

Step 1Flush the toilet.

Step 2Observe if there is a bubble of water and an audible stop of the running water.

Step 3If you continue to hear water running, the toilet is having a “run-on” plumbing problem.

ANOTHER EASY WAY TO CHECK FOR TOILET LEAKS IS TO DO THE FOLLOWING:

Step 4If any trace of color appears in the toilet bowl, there is a leak.

Step 1Remove the tank lid, then flush.

Step 2After the flapper/tank ball drops and the tank refills, add several drops of dark food coloring.

Step 3Wait at least 20 minutes.


By Mila Batilante

INFLOW, OUTFLOW

Column

We want to know what you think so we’re giving you your own column.

How I am preparing for El Niñohouse. To save more water, we have also cut our laundry schedule from three times a week to only once a week.

Although it is now a hot season, we limit the watering of our plants to nighttime only. We don’t water in the morning anymore so that we could use the water for other more important purposes. In order to save more water at home, we avoid leaks by turning off all the faucets properly when not in use.

Conserving water during this time will help solve our problem. As a responsible consumer, let us maximize the use of water.

Likewise, to help Maynilad in its water supply management effort, let us report leaks around our community. In this way, we are not only giving a solution to the El Niño problem but also adding value to the company’s goal of protecting the environment.

Text Tubig is a web-based SMS facility that has different

modules to address the information needs of Maynilad customers. Through this technology, Maynilad can upload, manage and provide customized data to its customers.

Text Tubig subscribers may pull information from the infoboard, such as water service advisories, Business Area locations, application

Maynilad, Smart launch Text TubigMaynilad and Smart Telecommunications Inc. (Smart) recently launched an infoboard service called Text Tubig to enhance the information dissemination initiatives of the water company.

In order to receive regular updates, you need to register. To register: go to SMART menu, select MAYNILAD, then select Registration. Text in your Business Area, Name, Contract Account No. and Age (press OK after entering each).

Once you receive confirmation,text(BusinessArea)<space>PUSH<space> ON to 717TUBIG or 71788244 (Sample: TONDO: PUSH ON)

requirements, and other useful details. They can also send feedback, complaints and requests directly to Maynilad through SMS.

To avail of the service, SMART and Talk ‘N Text subscribers can follow these simple steps:

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3Download MAYNILAD menu by texting MAYNILAD to 4755

(L-R) Perry V. Bayani, Talk ‘N Text & Sales & Bus. Dev’t. Group Head; Danilo J. Mojica, Wireless Consumer Div. Head; Manny V. Pangilinan, Smart Chairman; Rogelio L. Singson, Maynilad President and CEO; Isidro A. Consunji, Maynilad ViceChairmanastheyfinalizethepartnership between Smart and Maynilad.

Maynilad sealed its partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Rotary International for a comprehensive program to advance health and sanitation in communities near Pasig River in Paco and Sta. Ana, Manila and Baesa, Quezon City. The two international agencies, along with local barangay officials, also vowed to assist Maynilad in the speedy completion of the company’s sewerage projects in these areas.

The partnership is in line with Maynilad’s initiative to prioritize

sewerage and sanitation projects that will benefit households and establishments along the Pasig River system. Through proper wastewater collection, treatment and disposal, the company can help reduce pollution in the river, prevent the outbreak of water-borne diseases, and promote sanitation in the communities.

Maynilad’s priority sewerage projects include the Baesa Sewage Treatment Plant and the Paco Sewage Treatment Plant, which are both scheduled to be constructed

Maynilad partners with USAID, Rotary International

News

this year. Part of the extensive San Juan River Basin Project, the Baesa Plant can treat up to 390 cubic meters of wastewater per day and serve around 3,000 people. Meanwhile, the Paco Plant

Signing the Memorandum of Understanding are (seated by the table, from left) Brgy. Baesa chairman Eduardo Juan, Maynilad president Rogelio L. Singson, Rotary International District 3780 governor Dulce Coyukiat, and AECOM International Development (implementer of USAID-funded Philippine Sanitation Alliance program) Chief of Party Lisa Kircher Lumbao. Witnessing the signing of agreement are other Maynilad, USAID, Rotary International and local government officialsledbyQCvicemayorHerbertBautista(standingsixthfromleft).

has a design capacity of 550 cubic meters per day, which will enable the company to serve around 500 families in addition to those who are already connected to existing sewer lines.

The facility is the first sewage and septage plant in the Philippines to achieve the 2008 version of ISO 9001

standards. During the same recertification process, Maynilad also passed its first surveillance audit for Occupational Safety and Health Management System (OHSAS 18001:2001).

Maynilad Sewage Plant passes IMS recertification

The international certifications once again prove Maynilad’s commitment to quality, environmental protection, and occupational safety and health.

TUV SUD PSB Philippines, Inc. facilitated Maynilad’s original certification. This time, Maynilad secured the services of a different third party auditor—Rheinland Philippines, Inc.—to test its systems against international standards.

The Dagat-Dagatan Sewerage Plant has a 13 MLD capacity—over three times more than its current load of 4 MLD.

Maynilad’s Dagat-Dagatan Sewage and Septage Treatment Plant (DDSSTP)—the first Integrated Management System-certified facility of its kind in the Asia Pacific Region—passed its recertification for Quality Management System (ISO 9001:2008) and Environment Management System (ISO 14001:2004) last March 1 and 2.

The coming of El Niño should not be taken for granted. Due to this phenomenon, there is less rainfall and our

main water resource, the Angat Dam, is being depleted. This means that we will experience water shortage if the situation is not given immediate attention.

Water should not be wasted; everyone should use it economically. And this initiative should start in our households.

Even without the threat of El Niño, we have already been conserving water in our own home. The water used after bathing and washing clothes and dishes is used for flushing the toilet, and cleaning the garage and other parts of the

Mila Batilante is Corplan Specialist in the Corporate Planning Department.

The Men and Women of Maynilad

Our business and operations are highly dependent on

the environment, and it is this department’s job to ensure the long-term protection of this key asset. From organizing watershed protection activities, to developing partnerships with environmental groups, to overseeing compliance for ISO requirements, the Environmental Management Department remains at the forefront of initiatives dedicated to nurturing our natural resources.

“The work is challenging since we have to respond to issues and concerns that will enhance our environmental performance. We do it not only for regulatory compliance but out of our sincere desire to protect the environment,” said department head Frankie Arellano.

As the department that is alerted on changing regulatory requirements, their day-to-day activities are

Environmental Management

dedicated to developing measures for Maynilad to proactively cushion such changes and deal with the people mandated to implement these requirements. “This is a real challenge because you have to stretch not only your technical capability but also your social skills when dealing with the different personalities of the regulatory leaders and other groups that are affected by our operations.”

Despite the huge demands, the men and women of Environmental Management all take pride in the task of making Maynilad a truly green company.

The work is challenging since we have to respond to issues and concerns that will enhance our environmental performance. We do it not only for regulatory compliance but out of our sincere desire to protect the environment.

(L-R) Cristina Talanay, Vilma Cembrano, Aden Manalo, Richard Garcia, Enrique de Guzman, and Francisco Arellano.

The Environmental Management team with other employees as they lead a tree-planting activity at the Ipo Watershed.

Richard Garcia of EMD and Fernando Espineda of Central Laboratory preparing containers for water samples to be collected from Manila Bay.

Ensuring West Zone water supply - Maynilad Water … · Common health problems during El Niño 15...

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