NWRB lowers water allocation for Metro Manila

The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) on Friday said it has lowered the water allocation for Metro Manila. The move, however, will not mean water supply interruptions, assured the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). 

DENR Undersecretary Carlos Primo David said the allocation for the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System was reduced from 50 cubic meters per second to 49 cubic meters per second starting yesterday until the end of May.

“Maliit siya in terms of the total volume. 2% lang siya ng 50 (cubic meters per second.) Pero ang 1 cubic meter per second kasi is good as a supply for about 400,000 people,” David told GMA Integrated News.

(It is small in terms of the total volume. It's only 2% of 50 cubic meters per second. But 1 cubic meter per second is good for about 400,000 people.)

“Wala pa ring magiging interruptions na mangyayari. Ang pinakamararanasan ng ilan sa ating mga residente ay ang pagbaba ng water pressure even during the day time," added David. 

(There will still be no interruptions. What will happen is lower water pressure even during day time.)

"Actually, lahat halos tayo nakakaranas na ng kaunting pagbawas ng pressure during off-peak hours from 10 p.m. hanggang 4 a.m.”

(Almost all of us will experience a slight reduction in pressure during off-peak hours from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.)

Meanwhile, water concessionaires Manila Water and Maynilad assured their customers that there would be no service interruptions but they should expect lower water pressure during selected hours. 

“Dati ginagawa natin ito between 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Pero ngayon mas pinatagal na natin, from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. na yung reduced pressure,” said Manila Water Corporate Communications head Dittie Galang. 

(We used to do that before, between 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. But now, we will reduce the pressure from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.) 

“Kahit binawasan po ang ating alokasyon for the remaining half of the month of May, kaya na po natin to get by na kahit wala pong service interruption. This is between 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.” said Maynilad Corporate Communications head Jennifer Rufo. 

(Even though we got a lower allocation for the remaining half of May, we can get by without water service interruptions. This is between 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.)

It had been raining these past days but David said it was not enough to raise the water levels in most dams.

“Unfortunately, most of the rains, they fall within the metro. Ang kailangan natin, yung ulan na mahulog doon banda sa Angat at saka sa Ipo Dam. Kahit sa La Mesa Dam man lang," explained David. 

(Unfortunately, most of the rains, they fall within the metro. What we need is for the rain to fall in Angat and the Ipo Dam, even La Mesa Dam.)

The NWRB also lowered the National Irrigation Authority's water allocation to 12 cubic meters per second. 

“Significant din yung pagkabawas nung sa NIA, pero ang good news ay most of our Bulacan and Pampanga farmers are now just about to harvest their crops,” said David. 

(It was a significant reduction in the allocation for NIA, but the good news is that our farmers in Bulacan and Pampanga are now just about to harvest their crops.) 

The DENR had earlier issued water conservation bulletins.

“Paghugas ng kotse gamit ang garden hose, pagdilig ng ating mga halaman at garden using our garden hose. Puwede pa rin naman tabo at timba. At saka yung mga paggamit ng mga inflatable pools, sa ngayon ay pinagbabawal natin yan,” David said.

(Washing the car and watering the plants using our garden hose, we suggest using pails and buckets. We also discourage the use of inflatable pools.)

He is also pushing for households to have rain impounding devices such as 200-liter drums costing less than P1,000. Water collected may be used for flushing the toilet, watering plants, and washing vehicles.

“Talagang ang impoundment ang solution natin para during the rainy season, nakakapag-imbak tayo for our own use during the dry season,” David stressed.

(Water impoundment is really the key, we can store for our own use during the dry season.) —VAL, GMA Integrated News