MWSS repeats call to conserve water

AMID concern over water supply, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) reiterated its call to the public, particularly those living in Metro Manila, to use water wisely and support the government’s effort to ensure ample water supply especially in the wake of a weak El Niño in the Tropical Pacific.

According to the country’s weather bureau, the development has resulted in the upgrade of the Enso Alert System to El Niño Advisory. This year may be the warmest year on record as El Niño, according to some climate-change observers.

MWSS Administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco said he is calling on everyone to save water and help cushion water shortage as El Niño has varying impacts such as delayed onset of rainy season.

“Since we primarily source our water from the 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 said. As a rule, discharge for potable water supply becomes the priority during drought events, reducing water releases for agricultural irrigation and power generation.

Dam situation

WATER from Angat passes through the Ipo Dam, where it is then released to the La Mesa Dam.

According to government weather forecasters, La Mesa Dam has a 47-cubic-meter-per-second allocation of water from Angat Dam, higher than the 44 cms the government normally earmarks for La Mesa Dam during the dry season.

The water level at La Mesa is recorded below normal level and has prompted calls for water conservation from concerned sectors to maintain water reserve availability. As of March 5, its reservoir water level is 69.47 meters, which is below its normal high water level of 80.15 meters.

The onset of the dry season and the increasing demand from the burgeoning population has contributed to the decline in water levels, according to Velasco. This does not mean, however, that a water shortage looms in the horizon for residents of Metro Manila and neighboring provinces unless there is a disregard for water conservation until the rainy months set in, he added.

Rainfall

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 equal 40; below normal if it is 41 to 80; near normal if it is 81 to 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, while 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.

According to the Climate Outlook of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, averageto-slightly-warmer-than-average temperature will prevail during the March-to-August period. Six to nine tropical cyclones may develop and enter the Philippine area of responsibility but the frequency will be below average based on historical perspectives. The Pagasa also forecast meteorological dry spell to drought conditions in most areas in the country in the coming months.