Angat Dam. INQUIRER PHOTO
The water level at Angat Dam has fallen below the minimum operating level of 180 meters, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Saturday.
From 180.45 meters on Friday, the water level was down to 179.99 meters when monitored on Saturday morning.
The latest mark is already way below the normal high water level of 210 meters and closer to the critical level of 160 meters that was last recorded in June 2019.
With the reservoir level expected to further drop due to dry spells caused by the El Niño phenomenon, the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) said it would reduce the water allocation for the National Capital Region and the National Irrigation Administration until the end of July, at the very least.
Located in Norzagaray, Bulacan, Angat Dam supplies 98 percent of the potable water in Metro Manila through the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS). It also powers a hydroelectric plant and irrigates about 28,000 hectares of farmland in the provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga.
Service interruptions
With the water line now below the minimum operating level, priority will be given to Metro Manila households over other uses, such as irrigation and power generation.
Even then, MWSS concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. is bracing for water service interruptions.
Water volume coming from Angat to MWSS is being reduced from 52 cubic meters per second (CMS)—or about 4,177 million liters per day (equivalent to around 1,600 Olympic-sized swimming pools)—to 48 CMS.
MWSS earlier notified households to prepare for supply interruptions that could last up to nine hours a day, particularly within the Maynilad concession area, starting July 12 at the earliest.
Maynilad spokesperson Jennifer Rufo said the company would report next week on the specific impact of the reduced water allocation to its customers.
NWRB Executive Director Sevillano David Jr. said decreasing the allocation now would be crucial to conserve enough water for the needs of Greater Metro Manila up to the latter part of the year, when the impact of El Niño is expected to be at its worst.
Water coming from Angat flows to the La Mesa and Ipo Dams to help deliver supply to Metro Manila and nearby provinces through water concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water Co. Inc.
Maynilad currently operates in 17 cities and municipalities across the west zone of the Greater Metro Manila area, serving at least 9.5 million customers.
Manila Water update
On the part of Manila Water, corporate communications head Jeric Sevilla explained that the company’s augmentation sources “are still sufficient to bridge supply deficit should allocation still be reduced.”
When water allocation is reduced, Sevilla said, Manila Water draws 110 MLD from Laguna Lake through the company’s Cardona water treatment plant. Deep wells may also supply an additional 115 MLD.
“We also continue with our activities toward system readiness, operational adjustments and [nonrevenue water] management to still help ensure that our customers will continue to experience 24/7 supply despite the challenges posed by El Niño,” Sevilla told the Inquirer, adding that Manila Water would issue an advisory in the event of service interruptions.
Manila Water currently serves 7.6 million residents across the east zone.
Meanwhile, Energy Undersecretary Rowena Guevara said the Department of Energy was closely monitoring water levels at major hydroelectric power plants, including the 218-megawatt Angat plant.
Guevara warned that power generated from these facilities may drop by up to 75 percent in December, raising the possibility of power interruptions in areas dependent on hydro power plants for electricity.