Government to public: 'Save water, don’t panic'

MANILA, Philippines — Hospitals have cut down on some vital services, carwash establishments have suspended operations, and entire cities have been warned of little or no water supply. But despite the worsening water woes, the government yesterday assured the public that there will be adequate water in Metro Manila.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), however, said the water level in La Mesa Dam continues to inch below critical level.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) gave assurance that measures are in place to ensure adequate water supply for all.

NDRRMC executive director Ricardo Jalad said representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-National Water Resource Board (DENR-NWRB) and from Angat Dam had a meeting yesterday, during which it was revealed that the dam in Bulacan is still within its normal operating level of 199.94 meters compared to its minimum operating level at 180 meters.

Angat Dam is the main source of water in Metro Manila.

“This (shows) that Angat Dam can sufficiently address Metro Manila’s water requirements,” Jalad said.

So why are large areas of Metro Manila suffering from an acute water lack?

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) explained that the decline in La Mesa Dam’s water level is caused by the increase in water treatment production of Manila Water.

Jalad said that the water allocation of Manila Water from MWSS sourced from Angat Dam is 18.5 cubic meters per second, or 1,600 million liters per day.

The water demand from Manila Water consumers, however, has increased to 20.25 cms