NWRB may further reduce water allocation due to dwindling level in Angat

Angat Dam. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — An official of the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) said the agency may further reduce the water allocation of water firms from 40 cubic meters per second (cms) to 36 cms if Angat Dam reaches its critical water level.

Sevillo David, NWRB executive director, said there is already a reduction of water allocation to make sure that the dam will not reach the critical level.

“Nagbabawas [po] sa kasalukuyan [at] umaasa tayo na kung darating man yung pag-ulan ay hindi siya aabot ng critical level,” David told Radyo Inquirer on Wednesday.

“Pero kung aabot siya [sa critical level] kung magkakaroon ng kabawasan [mula sa] 40 magiging 36 po yan,” he added.

The critical level is at 160 meters above sea level (MASL) but this morning Angat Dam’s water level was at 161.3 MASL.

David further warned that the water level might reach 157 MASL, which is the lowest level recorded since 2010, the NWRB warned on Wednesday.

“Sa pagsusuri natin kung sakaling hindi pa dumating yung pag-ulan kung hindi pa rin darating may posibilidad po na maabot po natin ang level na yan,” David said.

Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Administrator Reynaldo Velasco previously said that the dam’s water level could drop to its critical level in two days’ time if there would be no rain to replenish the water supply.

READ: Water level at Angat Dam may reach critical level in two days — MWSS

Manila Water already implemented its rotational water service cutoff for up to 17 hours as Angat Dam nears its critical level mark. (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)

READ: Manila Water to implement up to 17 hours of service disruption