By Madelaine B. Miraflor Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System’s (MWSS) Regulatory Office (RO) has allowed Manila Water Company Inc. and Maynilad Water Services Inc. to delay their meter reading until April 14 and to instead charge their customers based on their average water consumption during the past three months. MWSS-RO said that in light of the implementation of the lockdown or the so-called enhanced community quarantine over Luzon, it has authorized its concessionaires to suspend their meter reading operations and implement average billing, based on the customer’s average water consumption during the past three months. However, the agency noted that upon resumption of regular operations, Maynilad and Manila Water will also be allowed to adjust charges on subsequent water bills based on the customer’s actual meter registration. “The next Maynilad water bills that will be issued to affected customers will be computed based on their average consumption for the past three months. Corrections will just be applied to subsequent bills once Maynilad is able to resume the actual reading of meters,” Maynilad said. As for Manila Water customers, the company said that “any difference versus actual consumption will be reflected and charges will be adjusted on the customers’ next bill when Manila Water resumes read-and-bill operations”. “Normal billing process will be observed when the government authorities officially confirm the end of the enhanced community quarantine,” the company said. Maynilad and Manila Water are now both encouraging their customers to pay their bills via online banks or mobile fund transfer channels. Meanwhile, Manila Water assured its customers in the East Zone that water supply is sufficient even amid the threat of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This is due mainly to the augmentation sources the company has started putting in place beginning last year, such as the Cardona Water Treatment Plant in Rizal and deep wells, as well as non-revenue-water recovery. Skeleton workforces are also on duty at every water supply and wastewater facility to ensure that service delivery remains unhampered, Manila Water said.