The water level in Angat Dam so far remains sufficient to supply the domestic water requirements of Metro Manila residents during the dry season, according to water regulators.
National Water Resources Board (NWRB) Executive Director Sevillo David Jr. said they have in fact increased allocation for the domestic water needs of Metro Manila residents amid the dwindling water level of La Mesa Dam.
NWRB, an attached agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, is in-charge of the allocation of water supply from Angat Dam to the National Irrigation Administration for the irrigation of farmlands in Bulacan and Pampanga, and Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) for the water requirements of households in Metro Manila.
“We are prioritizing the requirements for domestic water supply for Metro Manila by providing the maximum allocation from the Angat Dam,” David said, pointing out that about 97 percent of Metro Manila’s domestic requirements are sourced from Angat Dam.
NWRB is currently implementing 48 cubic meters per second (cms) allocation for the domestic water supply of residents in Metro Manila, as against the 46 cms last February.
The current allocation coming from Angat Dam is distributed by the MWSS for water concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water.
Although down from 200.59 meters last Monday to 200.28 meters on Tuesday, Angat Dam’s water level remains above its 180-meter minimum operating level.
“So far, we can maintain the maximum water allocation coming from Angat Dam because there is still sufficient water supply that can last until the end of dry season,” David said.
Only a portion of water is allocated for irrigation, he pointed out “but if this affects the water security of households in Metro Manila, we would likely reduce the water allocation for irrigation.”
The NWRB chief also noted that they are working with MWSS for the identification of deep wells and other groundwater sources to augment the supply of water in areas affected by the low water level of La Mesa Dam.
David is hoping that the identification process can be completed on Tuesday or Wednesday (March 12 or 13) to immediately address demand in areas experiencing water interruptions for the past few days.
As of Tuesday, La Mesa Dam’s water level has further declined to 68.85 meters, or 0.08 meters down from last Monday’s 68.93 meters. (Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz)
