Water consumers from the Laguna Water service areas (Biñan, Cabuyao, and Pagsanjan) are assured of enough supply of potable water.
Dustin Ibañez, Laguna AAAWater Corporation Communications and Branding Manager, assured consumers their water firm has enough water well fields and groundwater sources in their service areas.
“We would like to assure our customers that we have enough buffer stocks or supply to meet the requirements of our growing number of customers. In fact, as of today, we have more than 50 percent in our buffer,” Ibañez said in an interview.
He added that the Laguna well field capacity could produce around 100 million liters per day.
Laguna Water is the largest water, used water and environmental services provider in Laguna with more than 100,000 service connections, although other local government units operate their own water districts to serve constituents.
A joint venture of the Laguna provincial government and Manila Water Philippine Ventures, the water firm is wholly-owned subsidiary of the Ayala-led water industry service provider Manila Water Company.
He said the water company is continuously finding sources through feasibility studies to meet water demands even tapping water from Laguna Lake in the near future to ensure there’s enough water for the Laguna households while repairing pipe leaks and replacement of worn-out pipe lines.
Ibañez said the company invested more than PHP5 billion in various improvement and expansion projects.
“In 2015, nabigyan na kami ng (we were given the) authority to offer our services to the entire province. So, hindi siya (this is not) exclusive and we are undergoing negotiations with water districts and LGUs,” he added.
He also expressed optimism that in the future the entire Laguna province could be serviced, subject to negotiations with water districts and local government units.
“Since September last year, we have treatment facilities for used water and siphoning of septic tanks, and treated water which must pass the standards of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) before the treated water is discharged into natural bodies of water,” he said.
He also assured their water firm’s internal testing and a third party that conducts the water testing and discharge policies to ensure the water quality before releasing this to the body of water.
“As water service provider, we cater to domestic wastewater because the industrial and commercial establishments are required by law to have their own water treatment facilities,” he said.
At the media roundtable discussions in observance of the Ayala Corporation’s 185th anniversary business milestone, Ibañez presented their business model on diversified portfolio on products and services in the entire water supply chain from source and development, treatment and distribution, wastewater treatment and pipe-laying and purified bottled water.
He said they started with 3.1 million in water services in customer base in 1997 for the East of Manila service areas and the water firm has grown to 6.8 million to date, where some 1.8 customers are from the low-income segment.
“We have sustainability programs to connect the low-income bracket through “Tubig para sa Barangay” under the Manila Water Foundation to provide access to the poor communities to connect for a safe, clean and potable water network,” he said. (PNA)
