Rotating water interruptions loom in Metro

MANILA, Philippines — Rotational water interruptions in Metro Manila and nearby provinces loom as the 50 cubic meters per second (cms) water allocation for Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water takes effect tomorrow.

The 52 cms per second water allocation approved by the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) will end today amid the continued drop in the water level of Angat Dam.

In a text message to The STAR, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System deputy administrator Jose Dorado Jr. said the MWSS asked the NWRB to extend the 52 cms until June 30 and the agency is waiting for the NWRB’s reply.

As of 6 a.m. yesterday, the water level at Angat Dam dropped to 187.42 or 0.11 meters less compared to 187.53 meters on Tuesday.

The 52 cms water allocation for Maynilad and Manila Water was supposed to end on May 31 but was extended for 15 days.

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

MWSS administrator Leonor Cleofas said the government is preparing for the “worst” after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration warned that there is a 50 percent possibility that the country will experience a severe El Niño weather phenomenon, which can trigger a drought during the dry months.