By Catherine J. Teves
MANILA, Sept. 1 (PNA) — Some areas in the East and West zones covering Metro Manila and nearby locations will have water for only 12 hours or less in a day beginning this month, affecting nearly 356,000 customers, while other places will experience reduced water pressure.
Such water supply reduction by the zones’ respective private water concessionaires is in response to lowering of government’s September 2015 allocation for non-irrigation water from Angat Dam — Metro Manila’s main water source — in anticipation of the record drought-driving El Nino phenomenon’s possible onslaught later this year.
“The reduction is to ensure we have adequate water supply till next year,” National Water Resources Board (NWRB) Executive Director Dr. Sevillo David Jr. said Tuesday (Sept. 1) during a press conference in Metro Manila.
NWRB is the government’s lead water agency which approved the 38 cubic meters per second (CMS) non-irrigation Angat water allocation for September 2015.
That allocation is lower than the 41 CMS which NWRB set for non-irrigation Angat water in August and July this year.
“Reduced allocation is effective beginning today,” Senior Deputy Administrator Nathaniel Santos from the concessionaires’ State-run regulator Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) said at the press conference.
Authorities came up with such water management strategy as State weather agency Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned the “strong” El Nino at present can further intensify to a degree exceeding its 1997-1998 counterpart which is the strongest on record so far.
PAGASA also said El Nino might last until mid-2016.
Private concessionaire Manila Water Company Inc. (MWCI) covers the East Zone while Maynilad Water Services Inc. (MWSI) covers the West Zone
According to MWCI Media Relations and Tactical Development Manager Dittie Galang, some nine percent or an estimated 125,500 East Zone customer-households will experience this month water supply of up to 12 hours a day only.
“Other customers in the East Zone will experience weaker water pressure,” she also said at the press conference.
MWCI assured doing its best so none of its customers willexperience a day without water.
MWSI Water Supply Operations head Ronaldo Padua said an estimated 18 percent or 230,000 customers in the West Zone will have less than 12 hours of water supply in a day beginning this September.
“We’ll also reduce water pressure in some areas,” he said.
Both concessionaires noted the most affected customers will be those in elevated locations and areas far from respective plants.
Santos said the concessionaires will release, in advance,respective water supply reduction schedules.
Those advanced releases will help customers concerned prepare for reduced water supply due to either shorter duration for providing water or less water pressure, he continued.
The two concessionaires expect reducing water supply beginning early September if there’ll be no inflow to Angat.
PAGASA reported Angat Dam’s 6 a.m. water level at 186.24 meters on Tuesday.
Government’s protocol is to release Angat water for irrigation if the dam’s water level is above this facility’s 180 meters minimum operating level.
To avoid jeopardizing water supply to Metro Manila, however, NWRB hasn’t yet authorized resuming release of Angat water for irrigation even if the water level is above 180 meters since the threat of a record El Nino is looming.
MWCI and MWSI are urging respective customers to store water as both companies target limiting water rationing to emergency cases only.
Santos also urged East and West Zone customers to conserve water.
“Let’s prepare for the worst and hope for the best,” he said.
Among water conservation practices authorities continue promoting are turning off the faucet while shaving or brushing teeth, watering plants during cool times of the day and using a pail and dipper when showering.
They’re also advocating water recycling as well as regular checking and proper maintenance of water lines. (PNA)