The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) is seeking greater raw water allocation from the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) that will allow Angat Dam to boost the supply of water to impounding facilities that in turn supply water to Metro Manila industrial and household consumers, according to Maynilad Water Services Inc.
Maynilad said this developed in the wake of a meeting between the MWSS and Manila Water on Wednesday.
Maynilad said the MWSS seeks to increase the raw water allocation to 52 cubic meters per second (CMS) from the current 50 CMS beginning April up to May this year so that both the Ipo and La Mesa dams can fully recover and more raw water is conveyed to the Novaliches portal.
The parties seek greater water allocation as Maynilad has started implementing daily service interruptions in its franchise area on Tuesday “to preserve the remaining supply in the Angat-Ipo system given the impending El Niño when less rainfall will arrive to replenish the dams.”
Prior to the service interruptions, Maynilad augmented its water supply through a cross-portal arrangement with Manila Water because less water had been reaching the Novaliches portal in Quezon City.
However, since water elevation at the La Mesa Dam had been going down in recent weeks, Manila Water has also been forced to gradually suspend the cross-portal supply sharing arrangement that resulted in less supply for Maynilad to distribute and prospectively prolong its daily service interruption schedule starting April 1.
“With a higher raw water allocation, Manila Water would be more comfortable with sustaining the cross-portal sharing arrangement with Maynilad. It will also increase the volume of raw water that reaches Maynilad’s treatment plants, enabling us to suspend the daily service interruptions that is currently in place,” Maynilad explained.
Apart from the increased water allocation, Maynilad continues to adopt supply augmentation measures that include sustained reduction of non-revenue water such as the repair of pipe leaks and replacement of old pipes.
Leak repair activities at the conveyance system from Bigti to La Mesa Dam are also being done to arrest losses in aqueducts and improve raw water flow to the Novaliches Portal.
Prior to this, MWSS on Tuesday said water supply in Metro Manila remains “comfortable” for now despite the apprehension over the impact of another round El Niño weather disruptions.
MWSS gave the assurance based on simulation of water levels at Angat Dam that supplies 97 percent of Metro Manila’s water requirements.
Data from the National Power Corp. show Angat Dam water elevation at 202.81 meters or 22.81 meters more than the 180-meter minimum operating level.
Leonor Cleofas, MWSS administrator, said Angat Dam is seen showing sufficient water elevation levels until around end-August as the wet season begins.
The NWRB is composed of representatives from the National Irrigation Administration, the MWSS and other stakeholders of the Angat Dam.
