Water crisis looms as Angat Dam water level drops

A water crisis is looming in Metro Manila.

This, as Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Administrator Orlando Hondrade announced yesterday that the water level of Angat Dam, which supplies water to the metropolis, has reached its lowest recorded level this year at 192.80 meters.

According to Hondrade, the dam’s water level is way below 202 meters expected during the months of September and October, the onset of the southwest monsoon.

The MWSS has called the attention of the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) on the over-releases of water made by the National Power Corp., which may have contributed to the dam’s low water level.

Hondrade said the dam’s water supply is further threatened by the prevailing mild El Niño phenomenon, which is predicted to persist until May next year.

"Because of this, (Angat’s) water elevation could hardly rise to 202 meters and the water level may stay at 192.80 meters," he said.

Hondrade announced the creation of a water crisis team, together with the NWRB, to avert a water crisis in the metropolis.

The team would coordinate with water concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water.

"The water level in Angat Dam may be put at greater risk if the supply of water will not be effectively managed," Hondrade warned.

Among the mitigating measures being eyed by the government to prevent the situation from getting worse are water rationing, establishing water patrols, and the construction or reactivation of deep wells.

Other proposed measures include prioritizing water allocation for domestic use, installing static water tanks, repairing leaks in pipelines, rectifying distribution defects, and intensifying water quality monitoring.

"The public is again encouraged to save water and use it wisely, most especially in this situation," the MWSS said.