Personnel from the Muntinlupa City government delivering free water to a community affected by Maynilad's water service interruptions (Photo from Muntinlupa PIO)

The daily water service interruptions being implemented by Maynilad Water Services have continued in Muntinlupa. 

“Some areas of Las Pinas City and Muntinlupa City may experience low to no water supply starting February 24, 2026 at 12:00 pm until 7:00 pm due to variable raw water quality during the Amihan season, caused by strong winds over Laguna Lake. We are managing limited supply and will restore service as soon as conditions improve,” Maynilad announced on Feb. 24. 

In a recent live broadcast on Facebook held by Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon, Maynilad representatives admitted that the company is having difficulty supplying water 24/7 to households in the city mainly because of problems that hound its treatment plants that draw raw water from the Laguna Lake.

“We need to distribute or allocate hours. We have to distribute the water because of the number of customers that we have to serve,” said Greg Antonio,  speaking in Filipino, head of Maynilad’s Water Production South. 

He admitted that Maynilad was currently rationing water to many areas in Muntinlupa with eight hours each in the morning, afternoon and evening. 

When there is no water, Maynilad said it is delivering water using tankers. 

Alfred John Gallego, head of Maynilad’s Muntinlupa-Las Pinas Business Area, said the company’s treatment plant handling water from Laguna Lake was unable to cope with strong winds that generate powerful waves in the lake surface.

“We can see that wind conditions have not been favorable to us though we know it’s seasonal,” he said..“We need to protect our plant to prevent a surge of water that is not according to design.” 

He said Maynilad reduces the volume of water that the treatment plant processes to avoid compromising water quality.

Gallego said that the concessionaire also gets help from other water sources, like La Mesa Dam. He did not discuss, however, whether the company is also looking at other water sources.

He also said existing pipelines of Maynilad are no longer sufficient to carry additional water volume. He added that their main source of water, Angat, is always prone to the effects of El Nino, or prolonged dry spell.

“Although it’s a protected water source, it’s still affected (by El Nino),” Gallego said of Angat.

He said they have a study showing water sourced from the lake would last for four years if there are no rains or runoff water from tributaries and other rivers.

He said Laguna Lake’s connection with Manila Bay, through the Pasig River, makes it ideal as a water source. 

“But the reality is we have to treat it,” said Gallego. “Reverse osmosis.”