MANII.A, Apr 3: Purita Gonzales stays awake past midnight wailing for water to come from her faucet so she can store enough for the next day.

She is one of millions of Manila area residents suffering through a waler shortage aggravated by an electricity crisis that includes daily power outages lasting up to 10 hours, writes AP.

Gonzales and her four children live In a district of suburban Quezon City which receives water only ten hours a day — five hours in the morning and another five tn the evening.

Some districts receive water only one hour a day. Wealthy residents pay private companies to deliver water daily by truck.

'■Sometimes it doesn't come at all," said Gonzales. "And I just lose sleep from wafting."

Gonzales' district is on high ground, requiring waler to be pumped, officials say. And power outages disrupt opcra-lions ai the city's 16 pumping stations.

The power shortage has cost Manila companies 20 billion peso (800 milltoYt dollar) in lost business since Jan 1.

Since 1987, the Philippines has suffered from a drought due lo the El Nino factor, which altered weather patterns in the Pacific. Forecasters expect sufficient rain this year when the rainy season begins In May.

But ihc city's waler .system, much pl which was built in 1896, is in such disrepair that officials estimate more than half the supply fs lost through leaks and illegal taps.

Coping with the water shortage requires cooperation and ingenuity.

Gonzales' neighbours have bought large plastic and steel drums.' each holding at least 100 liters (26 gallons) of water. just enough for a day's need. They fill the drums whenever they have ihc opportunity.

Because, .of the low waler pressure, it lakes Gonzales about two hours to fill all her household containers — pails, kitchen pots and pans and used plastic ice cream cans, >