Metro Manila’s water dependence on Angat Dam to drop 86 percent

MANILA, Philippines, April 14 ------ Metro Manila’s water dependence on Angat Dam will go down to 86 percent once the Wawa Dam in Rizal becomes operational, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System said. MWSS department manager Patrick Dizon said Angat Dam supplies more than 90 percent of Metro Manila’s potable water needs. 

The reservoir also provides irrigation for farmlands in Bulacan and Pampanga. “We are trying to lessen the percentage of water dependence on Angat Dam. That’s why we are developing additional water sources such as the Laguna de Bay, Wawa Dam and Kaliwa Dam,” Dizon said. 

The Wawa Dam is expected to be operational this year, he said. Under the Water Security Roadmap, Dizon said additional resources are built every two to three years. The water elevation of Angat Dam remains high at 207.80 meters yesterday. “We were able to save water this summer. So we expect that we will have no water supply problem,” Dizon said. 

He said the National Water Resources Board has assured Metro Manila of water allocation of 52 cubic meters per second. “The water elevation of Angat can last until the end of the year. By August or September, it is expected to go up,” Dizon said. Dizon said concessionaires Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water would implement service interruptions because of maintenance activities. “Based on our agreement with water concessionaires, maintenance activities should be done from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. when few customers are using water,” he said. 

Source: phisltar.com