Regulator says there’s enough supply of water in capital, nearby cities
THE National Water Resources Board (NWRB) on Thursday said there was ample water supply in Metro Manila despite lower water levels in Angat Dam.
Angat Dam had posted a steady decline in its water level, with a daily drop of about 20 centimeters amid the summer heat, board Executive Director Sevillo D. David, Jr. told DZBB radio.
The dam’s water level goes down by a meter in five to six days, he said.
The water level in Angat Dam was at 189.28 meters as of Thursday morning, 0.19 meter lower, according to the local weather bureau.
The dam has a minimum operating level of 180 meters and a normal level of 212 meters.
“The current level of Angat Dam is still normal despite its decline,” Mr. David said. “It is really expected to go down during the summer months.”
Mr. David said NWRB and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System were closely monitoring the water situation in the dam.
He added that the weather bureau expects rains by the end of the month, which will raise the water level.
NWRB has increased the water allocation of Metro Manila’s two water concessionaires to 46 cubic meters since the government declared a public health emergency due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“Water is used for sanitation and preventive measures such as handwashing during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mr. David said, adding that people should use water responsibly. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
