East Zone concessionaire Manila Water and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) will implement a seismic retrofitting project as part of the natural calamity mitigation plan that will ensure reliability of water services to thousands of residents in the east zone in the event of natural calamities such as earthquakes.
The Ayala-led Manila Water's mitigation project will help ensure reliable water supply in times of calamities, especially earthquakes where water pipes might be at risk of breakage or collapse should a magnitude 7.2 earthquake happens.
"It is the mandate of MWSS through its concessionaires to provide continuous services for its customers by mitigating possible impacts of natural calamities," MWSS Regulatory Office Deputy Administrator for Customer Service Regulation Area Vincent Pepito Yambao, Jr. said.
Manila Water, on the other hand, is seeking the understanding of the public as the project will cause temporary inconvenience in water services as well as build-up of heavy traffic during project implementation.
Manila Water is also ready with an alternative water supply plan that includes the installation of static tanks and water delivery through tankers as the project will cause water interruption from March 15 to 18, 2015 in various barangays in Marikina, San Mateo and Rodriguez.
Twelve-hour water interruption from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM from March 16-18 is expected in the following barangays in Rodriguez, Rizal: Brgy San Rafael, Brgy.Geronimo, Brgy. San Isidro, Brgy. Burgos, Brgy. Balite, Brgy. San Jose, Brgy. Manggahan and Brgy. Rosario; in San Mateo, Rizal: Brgy. Maly, Brgy. Ampid 1, Brgy. Ampid 2, Brgy. Banaba, Brgy. Guitnangbayan 1, Brgy. Guitnangbayan 2, Brgy. Dulong Bayan 1, Brgy. Dulong Bayan 2, Brgy. Sto.Niño, Brgy. Silangan, Brgy. Sta. Ana, Brgy. Malanday, Brgy. Gulod Malaya, Brgy. Guinayang; and in Marikina City: Brgy. Concepcion Uno, Brgy. Concepcion Dos, Brgy. Fortune, Brgy Nangka, Brgy. Marikina Heights, Brgy. Parang and Brgy. Tumana.
Meanwhile, 72-hour water interruption (from 10:00 PM, March 15 to 10:00 PM, March 18) will affect the areas of Hillside and Cortijos Subdivision in Brgy. San Rafael, Rodriguez, and Marang Road in Brgy. Maly and Villa San Mateo I in Brgy. Guitnangbayan 2 in San Mateo, Rizal.
The project, which will be implemented from March 4 to 29, 2015 involves the installation of several seismic joints along the 1.3-meter diameter pipe in Rodriguez, Rizal, It has gained the approval of the provincial and local government units of the affected areas in Marikina City and Rizal Province.
Based on the seismic hazard report of Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study (MMEIRS), a joint study of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the 1300-millimeter diameter transmission line crossed the West Valley Fault which could experience differential ground movement during a 7.2-magnitude earthquake and may be prone to damage unless reinforcing measures such as seismic joints are installed.