Water utilities see no shortage this summer

Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Building. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The two water utilities in Metro Manila are keeping cool about the water supply situation during the  summer months, steering clear of raising any warning related to a possible shortage.

“We do not foresee any water shortage (this summer) but we are very watchful of the supply situation, especially in Angat Dam,” said Gerardo Ablaza, Manila Water Company Inc. president and chief executive.

“We do not expect a situation that comes anywhere close to what we experienced in 2010 when the water level was critically low because of El Niño but we call on the public to please conserve water,” Ablaza said at a press briefing Friday.

In 2010, water supply had to be rationed as Angat recorded a water level of 167.55 meters above sea level. The dam’s “critical” minimum level is pegged at 180 meters.

Ablaza said that while the National Water Resources Board has reduced the volume of water released for irrigation purposes, the flow of water  for household use remains normal.

For its part, Maynilad Water Services Inc. said it was closely monitoring the water levels at Angat and Ipo dams “so we can make accurate projections and scenario planning.”

“We are in constant coordination with the NWRB and MWSS (Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System) to ensure that we have enough raw water supply for our customers,” Cherubim Ocampo-Mojica, head of corporate communications at Maynilad, said in an interview.

In a related development, Maynilad said it has brought online a portal flow control system project that is meant to ensure the accurate distribution of raw water coming from Ipo Dam to La Mesa Dam.

According to the National Power Corp., the NWRB has reduced the allocation of water to Metro Manila from Angat from 46 cubic meters per second (cms) in January to 41 cms starting this month. For irrigation of farms in Bulacan and Pampanga, the volume was reduced to 19 cms.

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