355,500 Metro households get less water

At least 355,500 households in Metro Manila will experience rotating water supply disruptions this month as a result of reduced water allocation from Angat

Dam from where the metropolis gets its water supply.

This is the second time this year that the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) reduced water allocation of Metro Manila households to ensure adequate supply of potable water in the event of severe and prolonged drought brought about by the strengthening El Niño episode.

NWRB Executive Director Sevillo David Jr. said the reduced water allocation for Metro Manila’s domestic supply from 41 cubic meters per second (cms) to 38 cms was implemented yesterday. The current allocation is split 60-40 between water concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water, respectively.

Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Senior Deputy Administrator Nathaniel Santos said because of the reduced allocation, “water concessionaires will also have to reduce their water production that will be delivered to the consumers.”

“The normal water allocation we receive is between 43 to 46 cms but because NWRB has lowered it to 38 cms, this will entail an appropriate action from the Maynilad and Manila Water. Some areas will experience lower water pressure, while others will have shortened water service hours,” he added.

According to Ronald Padua, head of Maynilad’s Water Supply Operations, about 18 percent of the total households being served by the west zone concessionaire, equivalent to 230,000 households, will experience less than 12 hours of water supply daily.

“We will implement water interruptions in rotation in elevated and far areas in North Caloocan, Quezon City, Parañaque, Cavite, and Valenzuela,” Padua said.

“We are doing all our efforts to lessen the inconvenience among our customers. During the 2010 El Niño, there were areas that experienced no water supply for 24 hours. This time, we would want to prevent that from happening,” he added.

Water ration

“If there will be no continuous rains over the Ipo Dam in Bulacan, within two to three days we will implement the water supply interruptions in some of our service areas. But if there will be rains, we will implement by Tuesday next week. We will inform the affected households at least a day before the scheduled water interruption,” Padua added.

Likewise, east zone concessionaire Manila Water will also implement water disruptions in its service areas by Thursday next week.

Dittie Galang, media planning and tactical development manager of Manila Water, said 9 percent of total households they are serving (equivalent to 125,500 households) will have less than 12 hours of water supply daily. This will also be implemented in rotation in elevated and far areas in Antipolo and Rodriguez in Rizal, Taguig, and some areas in Pasig, Marikina, and Quezon City.

Maynilad and Manila Water serve a total of 1.2 million households and 1.3 million households respectively in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Santos said other areas that will not be affected by water interruptions will experience low water pressure. “As much as possible, we want to prevent water rationing because we want to make sure that our water concessionaires bring water to the tap,” he added.

If the situation does not improve “water interruption will be implemented until mid-2016,” Galang said.

The water concessionaires assured the public that they will be given ample time to store sufficient water before they proceed with any mitigating measure.

Way below

NWRB Deputy Executive Director Jorge Estioko said Angat Dam’s level continues to rise but is still way below its normal high water level of 210 to 212 meters. The water reservoir in Bulacan supplies 90 percent of Metro Manila’s domestic water requirements.

Citing the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) data, Estioko said Angat Dam’s level is at 186.24 meters, which is still below 23.76 meters from the normal high water level of 210. It is also just 6.24 meters above the minimum operating level for domestic supply, he added.