MWSS assures public of ample water supply

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila and nearby areas will have ample water supply until summer next year due to higher water elevation of Angat Dam and new water sources, according to the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS).

“I think we don’t have any concern or problem with regards to the water situation this year up to December and also up to next year,” MWSS administrator Leonor Cleofas said in an interview.

Water elevation in Angat Dam is close to the year-end target of 212 meters this month.

Angat Dam supplies more than 90 percent of Metro Manila’s potable water needs and provides for the irrigation needs of 25,000 hectares of farmlands in Bulacan and Pampanga.

“Right now, I think our elevation is more than 208 meters and still we are just in the beginning of December. Our target is 210 meters, so we are almost there, but we want to maximize up to 212 meters,” Cleofas said.

“This is because of our Umiray River. We have the Umiray tunnel that augments the water in Angat,” she said.

When the end-of-the-year water elevation of Angat Dam reaches 212 meters, the potable water requirement for Metro Manila and irrigation supply needs of Bulacan and parts of Pampanga for the summer months are ensured.

Apart from Angat, there are also new water sources built to augment supply to Metro Manila.

“Although we are saying that majority of our water sources is coming from Angat, we have other sources that will augment the water from Angat,” Cleofas said.

The other sources include the Cardona intake facility of Manila Water Company and Putatan treatment plant of Maynilad Water Services Inc., which both draw water from Laguna Lake.

Meanwhile, the completion of the phase 1 of the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project called the Tayabasan Weir in May—ahead of its October target—further augments the water supply for both concession areas.

Providing ample water supply to Metro Manila and the province of Rizal, the Tayabasan Weir is a 25-meter-high roller compacted concrete structure designed to deliver 80 million liters per day (MLD) to offtaker Manila Water and MWSS.

The water project’s phase 1 is comprised of three parts: the weir where water is impounded, the pumping station that brings the bulk water to the water treatment plant, and the buried water pipeline where the bulk water passes to get to the water treatment plant.

“Actually, the water treatment plant is now on commissioning so we’ll be comfortable,” Cleofas said.

Cleofas also cited Manila Water’s small water source project in Marikina River.

“We have other small sources of water like the Manila Water has developed the 10 MLD from Marikina River which is also operating. Right now, we are minimizing their production because of the excess water,” Cleofas said.

The MWSS earlier said the one-year rehabilitation of a turbine at the 218-megawatt (MW) Angat hydroelectric power plant (AHEPP), starting August until April next year, would not affect water supply in Metro Manila.

The 244 man-days work involves complete dismantling and replacement of old systems, assembly and installation of new and automated systems.

This is the first major rehabilitation program since the facility was commissioned in 1967.

While normal dam operations will be affected by the repair, Cleofas earlier assured the public that the risk to water supply is low as the dam will maintain its ability to release water through the by-passes of the auxiliary turbines and the operation of the low-level outlet.

MWSS said the allocation of 48 cubic meters per second (CMS) to water concessionaires is guaranteed, and there would be no minimal disruption in water supply operations.