MWSS CONCESSIONAIRES ASSURED OF NORMAL RAW WATER SUPPLY

Normal allocation of raw water from Angat to the concessionaires of Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) will be maintained until June to support the continuing fight against the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), according to the National Water Resources Board (NWRB).

The NWRB said in a statement that as of April 21, the water level at Angat was more than eight meters higher than the level of the dam on the same date last year.

“With Pagasa (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) rainfall projection indicating near normal rainfall condition until September, the water level in Angat dam is projected not to fall below the minimum operating level of 180 meters (above sea level, or masl) despite the full allocathe tion to MWSS and the releases for irrigation in its wet cropping season come June,” the agency said.

Supply from Angat to MWSS has been raised to the normal flow of 46 cubic meters per second (cms) since the third week of March when NWRB decided to do so following several months at 42 cms.

Back then, Manila Water Co. Inc. and Maynilad Water Services Inc. were still implementing rotational service interruptions during nonpeak consumption hours amid lingering effects of the supply crisis in 2019.

Despite that, and because of the implementation of the quarantine, the NWRB raised the allocation to normal.

Also for June, NWRB said it allocated 15 cms of water from Angat for the irrigation of farms in southern Bulacan.

NWRB said water in Angat dam was sustainable until the onset of rainy season in June.