The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) on Wednesday acknowledged the likelihood of a cut in water allocation from Angat Dam and strengthened the possibility of reduced water services for Metro Manila consumers.
NWRB executive director Sevillo David Jr. said the allocation could drop to 48 cubic meters of water per second (CMS) from 50 CMS at the moment as water level in the reservoir steadily drops due to the lack of rainfall.
According to him, there is no final decision at the continuing NWRB review conducted in close coordination with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MSSS) even as water at the dam continues to deplete.
Angat Dam water elevation stands at 181.18 meters as of latest or only 1.18 meters above the minimum operating level. Water elevation of only 180 meters triggers restricted water allocation for irrigation as domestic water supply is prioritzed.
David said the authorities are hopeful the southwest monsoon from July to September can help fill up the watersheds that feed Angat Dam with water and supply Metro Manila.
“We understand that we need to manage the existing water source that we have right now to sustain the supply until the end of the year. This is a whole of government approach to minimize the impact of El Niño to customers, which is conservation,” Patrick James Dizon, MWSS division manager for Angat-Ipo operations, said.
