NWRB to augment Metro Manila water supply

Daniella Marie Agacer/INQUIRER.net

The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) on Friday said additional water supply will be provided to two of Metro Manila’s major sources of water as Filipinos brace themselves for daily service interruptions amid the dry season.

At a press conference, NWRB Executive Director Sevillo David Jr. said the agency’s board of directors decided to grant 50 cubic meters per second (CMS) to the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) for 15 days to allow the La Mesa and Ipo dams to recover.

“We expect the additional 50 CMS allocation to address the water supply issues in Metro Manila, and we will continuously review this allocation,” David told reporters.

The additional allocation, which will be sourced from Angat Dam, will be granted from April 1-15.

READ: NWRB evaluates request of MWSS, Maynilad, Manila Water for extra water allocation

The NWRB decision comes after the MWSS and water concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. sought the agency’s approval for additional supply, warning of declining elevation in Ipo and La Mesa dams.

The MWSS sought the 50-CMS allocation for two months, but David explained that the NWRB still needed to review the impact of additional supply.

While Angat still enjoyed normal water level, the official said the NWRB wanted to remain cautious given the impending El Niño phenomenon, which is projected to take effect later this year.

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