WATER MANAGERS serving Metro Manila say they are making sure they are able to pump water from the taps before the onset of El Niño, as the dwindling water in the Angat Dam has led to a reduction in water allocation in the capital.
Maynilad Water Services, Inc. and Manila Water Co., Inc. tell customers that they expect their supply to be reliable after they take steps to build their own databases.
Christopher Jaime T. Lichauco, chief executive officer of Maynilad, said the company was preparing for El Niño, which caused the Angat Dam to record low levels in 2019.
“The Maynilad system today has more locks than in 2019. Angat Dam is still our main source of raw water, but now we have additional wells, lower water losses, expanded storage, and improved network management capabilities to help manage tough raw water conditions,” he said in a statement.
Maynilad, which supplies water and wastewater to 10.5 million people in the western Metro Manila area, said it has increased its water treatment capacity and isolated its supply sources.
It added that its facilities in Laguna de Bay are now producing 450 million liters per day (MLD), and the capacity has increased since 2019 with new plants, deep wells, and the NEW WATER system, which safely transforms wastewater into drinking water.
The company also improved the water storage area and reduced water loss. The capacity of the dams has increased, as there are many projects underway, while efforts to reduce water shortages have received a large supply.
“Although the intensity and duration of El Niño will ultimately depend on the behavior of the weather and the availability of raw water, we will continue to use appropriate measures to protect the reliability of the service as conditions change,” said Mr. Lichauco.
Meanwhile, Manila Water assured its more than 7.8 million customers in the eastern region of 24/7 water delivery even if the Angat Dam also reduced its quota.
Manila Water said the infrastructure investment has helped it reduce its dependence on the Angat Dam. Now it can affect Upper Wawa Dam and Tayabasan Weir, which can deliver up to 710 MLD. Both can serve as intervals when the supply of raw water is limited.
Calawis Water Supply System Phase 1 can provide up to 80 MLD.
Beyond the Angat dam, Manila Water said it supplies water to the Cardona Water Treatment Plant and the East Bay Phase 1 Treatment Plant, which draws water from Laguna de Bay.
“With this infrastructure investment to provide additional water supply, our customers can continue to enjoy 24/7 water service despite the low supply from Angat Dam caused by El Niño,” Head of Manila Water Corporate Communication Group Dittie Galang said.
“The company is also continuing to develop these water supply efforts in the long term, as there are many water supply projects that have already started,” he added.
The National Water Resources Board reduced the quota to service providers to 48 cubic meters per second (cms) from the normal 52 cms after the water level in Angat fell below the critical level of 160 meters.
As of early Wednesday, the water level in Angat Dam has dropped to 159.90 meters from 159.95 meters the previous day. – Sheldeen Joy Talavera
