La Mesa Dam’s water level is reported critically low due to high demand but low supply of water. INQUIRER PHOTO/ JAM STA ROSA
Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) administrator Reynaldo Velasco on Friday allayed fears of an impending water shortage despite the onset of the dry season and the reported low water level at the La Mesa Dam.
“The main water source of supply for Metro Manila is the Angat and Ipo dams. Despite the extreme hot weather, Angat Dam’s water level remains high at 194.3 meters which is 14 meters higher than its required level of 180 meters. So there is adequate water supply to meet domestic and industrial demand in Metro Manila,” Velasco said.
Normal occurrence
He pointed out that “the decrease in the water level of La Mesa Dam is a normal occurrence during the dry season where rainfall is nil, if not minimal, and water evaporation is high.”
Velasco made the assurance to customers of Manila Water and Maynilad following his meeting with Maynilad president Ramoncito Fernandez and Manila Water chief operating officer Ding Carpio to resolve the technical issues over raw water supply allocation due to higher demand for water by consumers during the summer months.
The MWSS chief also reported that the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) has committed to increase the water allocation from Angat Dam to La Mesa Dam by 172 million liters per day (MLD) on top of the regular 4,000 MLD to cover the water requirements in Metro Manila and its environs.
Conserve water
Under the concession agreement, Maynilad is allocated 60-percent share of water while Manila Water, 40 percent.
“Sixty-forty is not about up to the last decimal,” Velasco said.
NWRB executive director Sevillo David Jr. also called on the consumers to conserve water and be responsible in their water consumption.
“The water reserve from Angat Dam is still enough to supply the overall needs of the residents in Metro Manila and the irrigation needs in nearby Luzon during this hot and dry season but, of course, I call on everyone to conserve and preserve water—which is one of our basic commodities,” David said.
NWRB expects the early onset of the rainy season, as forecast by the weather bureau.