Listen up. This affects you and me. It's about our water and just a few things I've learned that may be useful information as we go along day to day taking a bath, getting our drink and all those essential things we do with water to LIVE.
It took quite some time before one of the major water providers Maynilad went full blast here in Parañaque City. We had to get by with deep wells until in 2004 when Parañaque was declared a critical area for deep wells by the National Water Resources Board (NWRB). Meaning, deep well extraction is becoming hazardous to human health and the environment because it has reached sea level contaminating our water and leading to the destruction of land subsidence. That time only certain towns and cities were declared but lately, the whole Metro Manila has been covered. The declaration was released in 2004 including Parañaque, however, knowing how challenged our government systems are, the cease and desist orders for those operating deep wells are taking FOREVER. We all know that deep wells are still being used in some places up to this very day. In my place for example, our Maynilad connection was finally established just last year, 2013. God knows what I went through to push our developer to get Maynilad up and running here. They were operating a deep well and charging us with unregulated fees. I learned all this when I questioned their fees with the NWRB for the deep well they were using. They were charging us fees without a Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC). The CPC is a permit to charge fees for utilities like water. So long story short, they finally had Maynilad providing us the water. But here's what, they are still using the deep well for their activities. Sigh!
Now that we have Maynilad and assured of cleaner water and a safer environment, one minor disadvantage is the pressure. The deep well was stronger but not by so much. Every morning, the pressure in the 2nd floor of our houses is weak. There are some houses here that have 3rd floors and unfortunately the pressure does not reach them at all during the peak hours in the morning. What one of our neighbors with a 3rd floor did was install a booster. Now, the use of boosters to increase pressure from the water provider is PROHIBITED. I think this is common sense. It affects the pressure of the others and just puts the entire system in a mess! Some have noticed the water turning dirty. According to the Maynilad people I spoke to, when I reported this, said that the booster is a factor in affecting the quality of their water. The booster is allowed with a cistern tank and not directly on the Maynilad meter.
Reporting the matter to the Maynilad Parañaque department is another story. So they came and listened to our complaint against the neighbor's booster. That was good. They agreed that they will give us updates whether or not they will comply and what legal action they will impose. Weeks turned to months and no word from them. I texted, I called and was told that they will get back to me for developments. Still, no word. At this point, I wanted to raise hell and the way I did it was use my connections. No one that high like Manny Pangilinan himself, who now owns Maynilad. It's just their legal department. After talking to Bebette Espiritu, the head, they took real action. It was simple, what they were supposed to do months back. They will write them a formal letter directing them to remove the booster from their meter or else they will have to disconnect their water supply.
So coming to the end of this piece, deep wells are now dangerous to use in Metro Manila or else who knows what disease will mutate again and do not be surprised if we find ourselves sinking already one day. The other is that boosters to increase the pressure from the water provider is PROHIBITED.
Clear? Like Water?
More about the ban on deep wells:
http://philippinerealestatenews.blogspot.com/2008/04/nwrb-prohibits-deep-well-water.html
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