Angat Dam. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The National Power Corp. (Napocor) has said it will discuss water rights with the National Water Resources Board’s (NWRB) amid lower water levels at Bulacan’s Angat Dam facility, which supplies water to Metro Manila households and also hosts a hydroelectric power plant.
Napocor said it has set a meeting with NWRB on May 21 “to discuss if water supply to Metro Manila will be reduced.” Napocor holds the water permit issued by NWRB on power and remains a “co-party” in the water protocol with the Manila Waterworks and Sewerage System.
As Angat Dam hit its minimum operating level of 180 meters above sea level (masl) on Sunday, Napocor said it cut off its water supply for irrigation for Bulacan and Pampanga starting Monday, at 2 p.m. to prioritize potable water supply.
“Water supply for Metro Manila remains at 42 cubic meters per second (cm) until May 21 following the NWRB directive on water allocation,”
Napocor President Ma. Gladys Cruz-Sta. Rita said.
Napocor said that with a rate of reduction of 32 cm per day, the water level would reach 170 masl after 29 days. Although rains are expected to come by then, based on the forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, and Angat Dam can still supply water to Metro Manila even if it reaches 170 masl level, Napocor is urging the public to conserve and use water wisely.
In 2010, the lowest water level recorded at Angat Dam was at 157 masl, way below the dam’s minimum operating level of 160 masl for water supply.
Sta. Rita reiterated the Bureau of Soils and Water Management’s statement that cloud seeding operations at Angat Dam and watershed
would commence upon the issuance of clearance from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.
Napocor works in cooperation with the PAGASA and the National Irrigation Administration or NIA to ensure the optimal use of water for domestic supply, irrigation and power generation and aid the public in mitigating flood damages downstream.