Dry days ahead for Metro Manila residents

ENJOY IT WHILE IT LASTS A runner shields himself from water flowing from a fountain in Manila. Parts of Metro Manila face the prospect of being with little or no water supply as the water level declines at La Mesa Dam. —LYN RILLON

Parts of eastern Metro Manila and Rizal province may experience low water pressure or no water at all starting today, March 6.

In an advisory, Manila Water Co. Inc. attributed the situation to the dipping water level at La Mesa Dam that had reached critical level because of limited rainfall.

According to the Philippine, Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), the water line at the dam was pegged at 69.47 meters above sea level (masl) as of 6 a.m. on March 5.

La Mesa’s normal high water level — or the point at which it spills water — is at 80.15 masl.

Below spilling level

At Angat Dam, from which La Mesa Dam gets its stock, the water level was pegged at 202.85 masl, also lower than its spilling level of 210 masl.

“We may have to implement this (supply adjustment scheme) until the rains come,” Manila Water spokesperson Jeric Sevilla told the Inquirer.

Sevilla said the peak hours for water consumption varied in different areas although these were generally between 8 a.m. and noontime.

“We advise our customers to store water during hours when they have water [coming out of their taps] to [stock up] for the times when they might not have a supply,” he added.

Affected consumers are those living in some barangays in Marikina, Pasig, Quezon City and Taguig, all in Metro Manila; as well as Antipolo, San Mateo, Rodriguez, Taytay and Jalajala in Rizal province.

Manila Water is implementing the measure also in light of Pagasa’s advisory that the El Niño climatic phenomenon— which brings dry conditions to the Philippines — is currently prevailing although it is a weak occurrence.

Maynilad unaffected

Maynilad Water Services Inc. has not announced similar measures since it relies mainly on Ipo Dam for its raw water supply.

The water level at Ipo Dam on Tuesday was at 100.96 masl, still near its spilling level of 101 masl. Even then, Ipo Dam also gets its stock from Angat Dam.

Affected areas

Following are the barangays in Metro Manila and Rizal that will have low water pressure or no supply at all starting March 6:

Taguig: Bagong Tanyag, Bambang, Central Bicutan, Central Signal Village, Hagonoy, Ibayo-Tipas, Katuparan, Lower Bicutan, New Lower Bicutan, North Signal Village, Santa Ana, South Signal Village, Tuktukan, Upper Bicutan, Ususan, Wawa and Western Bicutan

Pasig: Caniogan, Kalawaan, Palatiw, Pinagbuhatan, Sagad, San Joaquin and San Miguel

Marikina: Fortune, Nangka and Tumana

Quezon City: Pasong Tamo and Sacred Heart

Antipolo, Rizal: Dalig, San Jose, San Luis and San Roque

Rodriguez, Rizal: San Jose

San Mateo, Rizal: Ampid I, Ampid II, Banaba, Dulong Bayan 1, Dulong Bayan 2, Guitnang, Bayan I, Guitnang Bayan II, Malanday, Maly, Mayamot and Santa Ana

Taytay, Rizal: Santa Ana

Jalajala, Rizal: Punta and Sipsipin