NWRB to cut allocation for Metro Manila, irrigation if Angat level falls below 180 meters

The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) on Thursday said it will further reduce the water allocation for Metro Manila and irrigation for nearby provinces should the water level at Angat Dam fall below its minimum operating level of 180 meters.

Data from PAGASA as of 6 a.m. Thursday, July 6 showed the water level at Angat Dam is currently at 180.89 meters, lower than the 181.22 meters level as of July 5.

As the water level at Angat Dam further declines amid the onset of El Niño, NWRB Executive Director Sevillo David Jr. said, “The Board decided to modify the allocation if the level of Angat Dam falls below the minimum operating level of 180 meters.”

“For MWSS (Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System) 48 cubic meters per second (cms), NIA (National Irrigation Administration), up to 20 cms until the end of July,” David said in a Viber message.

The NWRB chief said the allocation will still be reviewed  based on the development of the level of the dam.

The proposed allocations were lower than the 50 cms for MWSS and 28.5 cms for irrigation in Bulacan and Pampanga this month. 

In an interview with reporters, Davi said took into consideration the projections of PAGASA about the onset of the El Niño phenomenon.

“Mas tuyo ang conditions by latter part of the year at most likely di maka-recover ng sapat ang Angat Dam kaya nag-decide ang Board na ngayon pa lang mag-adjust na ng allocation,” he said.

MWSS Angat/Ipo Operations Management Division head Patrick James Dizon, for his part, said the agency will discuss with concessionaires Manila Water and Maynilad the effect of the reduction to the customers.

Dizon earlier said around 632,000 customers of Maynilad could be affected by water service interruptions due to low allocation and lack of rain in watersheds.— BM, GMA Integrated News