Act now to prevent a water crisis
METRO Manila and parts of Central Luzon could face another season of water shortages if action is not taken now to prevent it, reports from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) suggest.
As of Saturday January 8, the water levels of the Angat, Pantabangan and Magat reservoirs were at 201.84 meters, 205.67 meters and 185.31 meters above sea level, respectively. These levels were 4.32 meters, 10.85 meters and 6.77 meters below the optimal “rule curve” elevations for those reservoirs on that day, and they were dropping at a rate of between 10 and 26 centimeters per day.
While these levels are not yet critical, Pagasa expressed concern that there could be shortages before the expected onset of the rainy season in the middle of the year. The Angat, Pantabangan and Magat watersheds are forecast to receive 96 millimeters, 91 millimeters, and 49 millimeters of rainfall, respectively, this month, but that is less than half of what would be needed to raise the reservoirs to near their normal high levels. Pagasa estimates that the Angat and Magat reservoirs will be approximately 10 meters lower than they are now by month-end, with Pantabangan dropping about two meters.
Again, to be clear, at this point, the current situation is cause for concern rather than alarm. However, if the rainfall forecast for the next couple of months does not improve significantly, we could, once again, be facing a situation similar to the widespread water shortages that plagued Metro Manila and surrounding areas in March-April 2019.
That was a difficult situation; at a time when we are also grappling with a strong resurgence of the Covid-19 pandemic, a repeat of that problem could be disastrous. The government, as well as water users, should be planning now to prevent or minimize another widespread water shortage.
For its part, the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) formulated a contingency plan during the 2015 to 2016 dry spell caused by the El Niño weather phenomenon to address water supply problems. As another El Niño is currently forecast to begin in the summer months (in June or July), implementing that contingency plan or at least preparing the responsible agencies to do so at the first sign of trouble would be a prudent first step.
The NWRB’s plan includes measures such as maintaining the maximum water allocation for the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) from the Angat reservoir to ensure adequate water supply in Metro Manila; allowing MWSS to use its existing deep wells as needed to augment water supply for its two concessionaires (Manila Water and Maynilad); reopening previously closed deep wells if needed to maintain water supplies for critical services, such as hospitals; and ramping up its information and monitoring efforts to prevent water wastage and encourage conservation.
Practice conservation
This last aspect of the water management plan is one that we can all participate in and most definitely should. Any of the government measures to ensure that water supplies are maximized are not effective if all of us who use water do not do so efficiently.
Many of the ways in which we can practice conservation require little to no investment or cost and do not noticeably reduce the convenience we are accustomed to. So, there is really no reason not to make them everyday practice. Checking water systems in our homes for leaks (such as dripping faucets) and having them repaired is a good place to start. Practicing easy water-saving habits, such as not letting the faucet run while brushing teeth or washing hands, and teaching these to our children also helps to reduce water use. Various water-saving devices such as flow restrictors or even simple steps such as closing water supply valves slightly on sinks or toilets can also contribute to lower water use. Extravagant practices such as frequently washing vehicles or sidewalks should also be avoided.
By thinking ahead, we can prevent unfavorable circumstances now from becoming a serious threat later on and further compromising our efforts to manage and recover from the coronavirus pandemic.