Metro Manila gets more water from Angat Dam

MANILA, Philippines - The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) has increased Metro Manila’s water allocation from Angat Dam in Bulacan for the month of December as the water level in the reservoir improves.

NWRB executive director Sevillo David yesterday said the municipal water allocation has been raised to 40 cubic meters per second from 38 cms this month, while the standby allocation for irrigation has been increased to 25 cms from 10 cms.

This, however, is still below the normal water allocation of 43 cms for Metro water concessionaires.

“The strong El Niño episode still prevails and there is still a need to manage the water supply in Angat Dam,” David said.

As of yesterday, the dam’s water level rose to 208.38 meters, although still 3.6 meters below the normal high water level of 212 meters.       

Metro Manila obtains more than 90 percent of its water supply from Angat Dam.

Because of this, Metro Manila west zone water concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. will merely reduce the water pressure in 56 percent of its concession area during the off-peak usage hours from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Maynilad services the west zone of the Greater Manila Area, which is composed of the cities of Manila (except portions of San Andres and Sta. Ana), Quezon City, Makati, Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon; the cities of Cavite, Bacoor and Imus, and the towns of Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario, all in Cavite province.

East zone water service provider Manila Water, meanwhile, would continue to reduce water pressure in its service area during the off-peak usage hours from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., according to company spokesman Jeric Sevilla Jr.

Manila Water serves the eastern portion of Metro Manila, which includes 6.3 million customers in Pasig, parts of Makati, San Juan, Taguig, Pateros, Marikina, Mandaluyong and parts of Quezon City and Manila as well as several towns in Rizal.