LLDA seals MWCI discharge outlet after controversial lake flushing

LUCENA CITY, Quezon – The Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) has permanently sealed the discharge outlet used by Manila Water Company Inc. (MWCI) in Binangonan, Rizal to prevent a repeat of the controversial pipeline flushing operation conducted last week.

In a statement issued Thursday, July 16, the LLDA said the sealing operation was carried out on July 14 at Barangay Ithan in coordination with the Binangonan municipal government.

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The agency said the move ensures that the discharge outlet can no longer be used for future flushing operations.

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“Any alternative utilization of this outfall pipe in the future shall remain strictly prohibited unless subjected to proper, advanced coordination and formal regulatory approval from both the LLDA and the local government,” the agency said.

The action came after LLDA officials met with MWCI representatives on July 13 to seek an explanation for the reported discharge of murky and foul-smelling water into Laguna de Bay.

During the meeting, MWCI said pipeline flushing is a standard industry practice for newly installed water supply systems and is necessary to clean the interior of pipelines before they are commissioned for public use.

According to the company, the discharged liquid was not sewage but lake water that had naturally entered the submarine pipeline while it was being laid on the lakebed and connected between Jalajala and Binangonan.

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MWCI said the accumulated lake water was flushed out using treated water from the East Bay Water Treatment Plant.

The company also acknowledged that it failed to anticipate the deterioration in the quality of the stagnant water trapped inside the sealed pipeline, resulting in the murky appearance and foul odor observed by nearby residents.

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The LLDA said MWCI apologized for failing to coordinate with the agency before conducting the flushing operation.

READ: LLDA probes Laguna de Bay fish kill

To prevent similar incidents, the LLDA directed the company to implement technical measures that would eliminate direct discharge into the lake.

Under an agreement reached during the meeting, future pipeline flushing will be redirected to the existing retention pond of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) pumping station near C6 Road in Taguig City through a connection to the Binangonan-Taguig pipeline segment, subject to MMDA approval.

The LLDA said the retention pond could serve as a temporary containment facility to prevent flushed water from flowing directly into Laguna de Bay.

The agency added that administrative proceedings and possible penalties against MWCI are being pursued through the appropriate legal process.

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However, the LLDA has yet to determine whether the flushing operation was linked to the reported fish kill in the Rizal portion of Laguna de Bay.

Earlier, the agency said investigators were assessing the volume and quality of the discharged water through water sampling and other field inspections as part of the ongoing investigation. /jpv