The National Water Resource Board indicated the higher allocation given the Metro Manila concessionaires may no longer be extended beyond June this year.
Sevillio David Jr, NWRB executive director, said extending concessionaire access to 52 cubic meters per second (CMS) of water from the dam may have been the last to ensure its availability for next year.
“Angat dam level continues to drop and we don’t experience much rain so we already need to control the release (of water) to ensure supply for next year. If the level continues to drop and we continue to extend, we might be compromised,” David explained.
David also expressed optimism the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System alongside Maynilad and Manila Water will soon complete their water recovery and other augmentation efforts given the reduced allocation from Angat dam.
Earlier, the NWRB said irrigation services drawing supply from the Angat dam require at least 40 CMS of water starting mid-June when farmers start the cropping season.
According to the National Power Corp., Angat Dam water stands at 186.13 meters, only 6.13 meters more than the 180-meter minimum operating level.
