Regulator says there’s enough water supply in Metro Manila
By Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
THE National Water Resources Board (NWRB) on Wednesday said there was enough water supply in Metro Manila in the face of increased demand in the summer and amid a novel coronavirus contagion.
The water allocation of 42 cubic meters per second (cms) to water concessionaires would be kept despite lower levels in Angat Dam, board Executive Director Sevillo D. David Jr. said by telephone.
As of Wednesday morning, the water level in Angat Dam stood at 200.72 meters, down by 0.23m from a day earlier, according to data from the local weather bureau.
The NWRB, together with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, Maynilad Water Services, Inc., and Manila Water Company Inc. is examining data to address the supply issue, Mr. David said.
“We have yet to confirm that there is indeed increased water usage due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19),” he said.
Mr. David said that both Maynilad and Manila Water had requested to keep the present allocation.
Manila Water’s allocation remained at 42 cms, well below the normal allocation o 46 cms, Nestor Jeric T. Sevilla, a spokesman for the company, said in a mobile-phone message.
“We have been using our Cardona Water Treatment Plan, which now yields 100 million liters per day, and deepwells to augment the supply coming from Angat,” he said.
Mr. Sevilla added that increased water consumption was to be expected in the summer months.
Manila Water is still implementing water interruption during off-peak hours, particularly from midnight to 4 a.m.
Meanwhile, Maynilad has put in place measures to ease the effects of reduced allocation from Angat Dam, said Jennifer C. Rufo, a spokesperson for the company.
Maynilad had been getting additional raw water from Laguna Lake via their two water treatment plants that produce 300 million liters per day, reactivating deep wells and sending modular treatment plants to small rivers in Cavite, she said.
The company was also finishing pipe replacements and leak repairs, and was ready with cloud-seeding operations.
“We encourage our customers to use water responsibly, and to limit its use for activities that are critical to ensure their health and sanitation,” Ms. Rufo said.
