Despite rains, water level at Angat Dam continues to drop

Despite the almost daily afternoon rains being experienced in many areas in Luzon, water level at Angat Dam continues to inch toward critical level, according to Bernadette Reyes' report on Unang Balita on Wednesday.

As of the report, water level at Angat Dam, which supplies water to 90% of Metro Manila households, was at 164.92 meters. Critical level is at 160 meters.

Danilo Flores, PAGASA senior hydrologist, said the recent rains have little effect to the dams in Luzon.

"Dito sa Luzon patuloy sa pagbaba [ng water level], hindi niya naramdaman 'yung mga pag ulan," he said.

Asked why, Flores replied, "Kasi hindi pa naman talaga tag-ulan. Yung ating mga dams nagri-react lang kapag tuloy-tuloy ang pag-ulan."

Because of this, Manila Water said water production may be affected.

According to the National Water Resources Board (NWRB), to keep water supply from Angat Dam at 46 cubic meters per second, they had to open the "low level outlet" although it may result in poor quality water as the outlet was last used in 2010.

"Nag-release po kasi sa low level outlet, unang-una tinigtignan natin diyan yung water quality nga, yung turbidity tsaka yung concern sa chemicals like manganese," said NWRB Executive Director Bill David.

"Nung tinest natin mukhang manageable naman siya but i-continue lang natin ang pagmo-monitor just in case umabot sa punto na may concern tayo sa water quality," he added.

Laban Konsyumer, meanwhile, is asking the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) to suspend the scheduled collection of inflation adjustment this year.

"Tayo po ay nananawagan sa bagong pamunuan ng MWSS kung maaring revioewin po ito at maaaring i-suspend nang sa gayon ay lahat, Manila Water at Maynilad, ay makakatikim ng reduction " said Laban Konsyumer head Vic Dimagiba. —KBK, GMA News