Children take advantage of floodwaters from a ruptured pipeline to swim along Sta. Maria Street in Tondo, Manila on April 12, amid a water service disruption. (Photos courtesy of Cedrick and Jeffrey Peñano Agulto)

As a broken pipeline cut water supply across parts of Tondo, residents found ways to cope, gathering around the flowing line to fetch water, bathe, and even letting children play in the pooled runoff despite the ongoing shortage.

In interviews, residents said the damaged pipe of Maynilad Water Services at the corner of Sta. Maria and Coral Streets reportedly ruptured at around 11 p.m. on April 11, triggering a widespread service interruption that lasted through Sunday and sending floodwater into several homes in the area.

Amid the sweltering heat on April 12, residents scrambled to make use of what was available.

Some filled pails and containers directly from the gushing pipe, while others washed clothes along the street.

Children, meanwhile, were seen splashing and swimming in floodwaters that, in some areas, rose beyond gutter-deep, as water from the damaged line spilled across roads and into houses along Sta. Maria Street, with several homes inundated.

“Ang sabi po kasi kanina pagpunta ko, natamaan daw po ‘yung lumang linya ng tubo kaya hanggang Pasay yata inabot. Ang sabi rin kanina ng napagtanungan ko, 11 p.m. pa daw babalik ang supply, depende pa daw po sa pressure ng tubig (They said earlier when I went there that an old pipeline was hit, which is why the disruption reached as far as Pasay. I was also told that water supply may return around 11 p.m., depending on water pressure),” said Jeffrey Peñano Agulto, a resident of Pacheco Street corner Varona, in an interview with Manila Bulletin.

Repair teams arrived Sunday morning, April 12, with residents saying personnel were on-site between 8 and 9 a.m., though actual repair work began later in the afternoon.

Water tankers were deployed as long lines formed across affected areas, with residents queuing under the heat to collect water for daily use.

In an advisory, Maynilad Water Services said it has dispatched mobile water tankers to deliver potable water to affected customers, while stationary water tanks were also installed in select locations during the ongoing repairs.

The company added that its field teams are working continuously to restore service, with water supply expected to return around 11 a.m. on April 13, although this remains subject to change depending on the extent of damage and water pressure conditions.

The disruption extended beyond Manila, with possible impact reported in several areas in Cavite, including Bacoor City, Cavite City, Imus City, Kawit, and Rosario, as well as Las Piñas, Parañaque, and Pasay.

Maynilad apologized for the inconvenience and thanked customers for their understanding as repair works continue.

As crews raced to fix the damaged line, the scene in Tondo reflected both the strain and resourcefulness of residents, turning a sudden disruption into a shared, if temporary, source of relief.