NWRB urges LGUs, consumers: Conserve water, recycle rain showers

Angat Dam LEO M. SABANGAN II

MANILA, Philippines – Households and local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila and nearby provinces have been urged to conserve water and recycle rain showers instead, as the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) braces for lower elevation levels at the Angat Dam.

NWRB Executive Director Sevillo David explained on Monday that LGUs can help in minimizing the effects of water shortage by strictly implementing water austerity measures in their jurisdiction.

“‘Don sa pag-kontrol o pag-limit ng gamit, ‘yong mga mga LGUs, makakatulong sila in terms of pag-enforce ng mga measures lalo na sa mga panahon na ito,” David said in a press briefing at NWRB’s office in Diliman, Quezon City.

“‘Yong i-limit ‘yong paggamit ng treated water, and instead gamitin ‘yong recycled or harvest rainfall sa mga non-essential na gamit,” he added.

Earlier, he announced that the water levels at Angat Dam have receded to 162.39 meters — almost 18 meters shy of the normal operating level at 180 meters. He also revealed that the 160-meter mark may be seen before the weekends.

The last time that the 160-meter mark was breached was in 2010, when water rationing was implemented to curb the shortage.

Water levels are not yet seen to increase even as the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) declared the start of the rainy season because of the monsoon breaks — or the shift between weather systems —would bring little to no rainfall, specifically in the Angat Dam area.

READ: NWRB: Angat Dam water level may hit ‘critical’ 160-meter mark this week

Still, David said that sporadic rains in a different area can help, if people collect these water and use them for another purpose.

“Mas mapapakinabangan natin ito kung i-ipunin natin at i-recycle po natin, kahit hindi man bumagsak ‘yan sa sheds, may pakinabang pa rin para sa supply ng tubig kung ito po ay hinarvest natin at magamit sa mga non-essential na (activities),” he explained.

READ: Water level in Angat Dam further drops

READ: NWRB readies measures should Angat Dam breaches 160 meter mark