NWRB reduces water supply to Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines - The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) further reduced Metro Manila’s water supply allocation from Angat Dam yesterday.

Maynilad and Manila Water, however, deferred drastic reductions in water supply and pressure as tropical depression Kabayan is expected to bring rains over Central Luzon and the dam, whose water level is way below optimal.

The NWRB reduced the water allocation for Metro Manila to 36 cubic meters per second for the month of October from 38 cms in September to conserve the dam’s water supply “during the period of this extraordinary El Niño which is projected to last until June 2016,”executive director Sevillo David Jr. said.

The new municipal water supply allocation would be in effect until Oct. 31.

David said the water level in Angat Dam – where Metro Manila obtains more than 90 percent of its water supply – was at 189.91 meters as of 8 a.m. yesterday, still way below the normal water level of 210 meters.

Maynilad Water Services, Inc.said given the forecast that a tropical depression would bring rains over Central Luzon, it would be able to maintain its current production level until Oct. 7 and will not implement water supply interruption schedules longer than the seven-hour daily interruptions it currently implements.

Maynilad’s Jeniffer Rufo said the company will issue a notice on Oct. 6 on the supply situation on Oct. 8 and beyond.

Manila Water Co. Inc. said it would maintain the current seven-hour water pressure reduced pressure after the announcement of the new water supply allocation.

“If there is a new scheme we will announce two or three days before the implementation,” said Manila Water spokesman Jeric Sevilla Jr.