Water level at Angat Dam is fast approaching the critically important 180 meters and has triggered an interagency meeting to avert a rationing of water in Metro Manila, particularly for households served by Maynilad Water Services Inc.
According to Patrick James Dizon, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) division manager for Angat-Ipo operations, the meeting had been called as water elevation at Angat now stands at only 181 meter or just above the minimum operating level.
Protocol requires the authorities quickly to ration Angat Dam water for domestic supply and for irrigation purposes should the reservoir elevation drops to 180 meters, Dizon said.
He said the inter-agency technical working group meeting requires the presence of the National Water Resources Board (NWRB), the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA).
PAG-ASA projects the expected rain in water sheds and the agencies learn if the reservoir water level will drop to the critical level.
“Right now, we can’t say if the MWSS will request (for increased allocation) since we also need to manage Angat Dam’s water level,” Dizon noted.
The NWRB earlier allocated Angat Dam water of 50 cubic meters per second (cms) for Metro Manila water concessionaires for July.
Sevillo David Jr., NWRB executive director, said a maximum 28.5 cms have also been allowed for the irrigation requirements of Bulacan and Pampanga farmers for the month.
The MWSS acknowledged reduced allocation may result to water interruptions for customers of Maynilad Water Services Inc. should there be not enough rainfall filling the watersheds this July.
Dizon said the worst-case scenario is painted as 632,000 Maynilad water service connections to experience scheduled interruptions from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. daily for customers in parts of Quezon City, Caloocan and Manila.
Data from the National Power Corp. show Angat Dam water elevation of only 181.53 meters or only 1.53 meters above the minimum as of 8:00 a.m. Tuesday.
