The dry spell has caused the water level at La Mesa Dam, a major source of water for Metro Manila, to drop to 68.93 meters on Monday morning, March 11, 2019. INQUIRER PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — Manila Water warned on Monday that water service interruptions in Metro Manila and parts of Rizal would continue until the end of the summer because of La Mesa Dam’s declining water level.
“Ito ay mararanasan natin for the rest of the summer months hanggang sa dumating ‘yung tag-ulan dahil sa nakikita nating level ng La Mesa,” Manila Water communications manager Dittie Galang told Radyo INQUIRER.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) hydrologist Aileen Abelardo said Monday that as of 6 a.m., La Mesa Dam’s water level was at 68.93 meters, breaching the 69-meter critical low level.
“Si La Mesa Dam ay mayroong 68.93 meters as of 6 a.m. (Monday). So, below na nga siya sa critical low niya na 69 meters,” Abelardo told Radyo INQUIRER.
This is 11.25 meters below the normal high water level of 80.15 meters and also the lowest water level in 12 years.
READ: La Mesa Dam level, already at lowest in 12 years, continues to drop
Galang said Manila Water still could not make any assurances when the normal water supply would return: “Hindi namin masasabi pa na mababalik sa normal ‘yung kanilang supply ng tubig katulad nung mga nararanasan nila ng mga nakaraang buwan o nakaraang taon.”
“Kailangan pa nga nating patagalin ang buhay ng La Mesa Dam hanggang sa mga susunod na buwan ng summer until dumating yung pag-ulan,” she added.
Residents of Metro Manila and parts of Rizal have been affected by water interruptions since Thursday, Mar. 7.
Manila Water has apologized to its customers for the unexpected water service interruption while saying that it already started to augment the supply in reservoirs so it could bring back water service to the affected areas. /cbb
READ: Manila Water apologizes for sudden service interruption