The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) will reduce the water supply of Maynilad and Manila Water from Angat Dam starting June 16 in preparation for the El Niño phenomenon.
Maynilad and Manila Water’s allocation from Angat Dam will remain at 52 cubic meters per second until June 15.
But come June 16, it will be reduced by 2 cubic meters per second so it will go down to 50 cubic meters per second.
“Gusto rin po natin na may karampatang suplay po tayong naka-imbak, ‘yon po ang tinitingnan natin para mapaghandaan ang pagpasok ng El Niño, na ayon sa PAGASA, [ang] epekto ay mararamdaman natin bago matapos ang taon hanggang summer next year,” said NWRB Executive Director Sevillo David Jr.
The reduction of 2 cubic meters is equivalent to 172 million liters that will be lost in Maynilad, which 172,000 customers already consume in one day.
For the NWRB, 2 weeks is enough for Maynilad to reduce spilt water and increase supply from sources other than Angat.
David says the allocated water can be tapped in the coming months.
Allocation of water from Angat to be reduced on June 16
The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System could not answer whether the NWRB’s strategy of reducing allocations starting June 16 is correct, but it is said that it will have an impact on the customers of Maynilad if the supply is not increased or the spilt water is reduced.
“For the consumers, magkakaroon ng interruptions especially during the night time pero dapat ma-implement po ang mitigating measures kaya pinu-push natin na ma-complete ang mitigating measures,” said MWSS divison manager Patrick Dizon.
Maynilad also cannot explicitly ensure if their customers are safe from water interruption.
Maynilad’s strategy is to buy additional water from Manila Water’s share, reduce non-revenue or spilled water, and increase supply from other sources.
“‘Yong kakulangan na ‘yon na 2 cubic meters per second na ‘yon ay nakikita naman naming sasapat ‘yong mitigating measures na in place that we have,” said Maynilad water supply operations head Ronald Padua.
It is said that Manila Water consumers have nothing to worry about because the company has assured that even with reduced allocation, there will still be a 24/7 supply of water to all their customers.
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