Brace for water shortage

MWSS urges consumers to use water wisely in the wake of El Niño

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) on Friday warned of possible water shortage in the coming months due to the El Niño phenomenon and called on consumers to use water wisely and support government and private sector's efforts to ensure ample supply.

MWSS Administrator Reynal-

do V. Velasco said that while there is enough water supply for its consumers now, there is still a need to save water to help cushion water shortage, one of the varying impacts of El Niño.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) confirmed recently that this year may be the warmest year on record because of El Niño, worsened by man-made global warming.

“Since we primarily source our water from Angat-Ipo-La Mesa water system, we have to do our share to help lessen the effect of El Niño not only on our need for water in our households and industries but also on agriculture,” Velasco further said.

As a rule, discharge for potable water supply becomes the priority during drought events, reducing water releases for agricultural irrigation and power generation.

Water from Angat passes through Ipo Dam, then released to La Mesa Dam.

According to PAGASA, La Mesa Dam has a 47-cubic-meter-per-second (cms) allocation of water from Angat Dam, higher than the 44 cms the government normally ear¬marks for La Mesa Dam during the dry season.

PAGASA hydrologist Jason Bausa on Thursday said that the water level at the La Mesa dam is now at critical level.

He said that at 6 a.m. Thursday, the reservoir water level in La Mesa dam dipped to 69.25 meters, from 69.35 meters on Wednesday.

The latest water level of the La Mesa dam is at least 10.90 meters low from 80.15 meters, its normal high water level, and close to the very critical level of 69 meters.

Bausa said Thursday that while the water level at the La Mesa Dam continues to decline, the Angat Dam in Bulacan is still able to supply water to it.

“Nasa low water level po ang La Mesa Dam, critical level na po. Pero nasusupplyan po ito ng Angat [Dam] kaya nafifill-up po nito yung mga kailangan (La Mesa Dam now has low water level, it’s already critical. But Angat can still supply it with water),” he explained.

MWSS said, however, that this does not mean that a water shortage looms in the horizon for residents of Metro Manila and neighboring provinces “unless there is disregard for water conservation until the rainy months set in.”

The rainfall for Angat watershed for March is forecast at 38.1 percent, way below normal and 68.8 percent, below normal for April. Rainfall condition is way below normal if the percentage is less than or =40; below normal if it is 41-80; near normal, 81- 120; and above normal if it is greater than 120.

Forecast rainfall for Metro Manila in percent of normal is 37.8 percent in March, way below normal. April, May, and June rainfall forecasts are below normal.

The province of Bulacan, which hosts the Angat reservoir, also has a way below normal rainfall forecast at 32.1 percent in March. Except for southern Mindanao and Surigao del Sur where near normal is likely, most parts of the country is forecast to have way below to below normal rainfall conditions this month. (With a report from Alexandria San Juan)