MWSS mulls easing water pressure as Angat Dam water level dips

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) said Sunday it was considering reducing the water pressure of concessionaires in Metro Manila due to the continuous decline of water levels in Angat Dam due to the effects of the El Niño.

MWSS spokesperson Engineer Patrick Dizon said that they discussed the option with the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) in a bid to ease the water consumption of consumers and, at the same time, maintain the water elevation in Angat Dam.

He, however, clarified that there was yet to be a final decision on the proposal.

“Ang iniiwasan natin ay ‘yung drastic na pagbagsak ng ating reservoir dahil sa consumption ng ating mga customer. Kaya sa ngayon, tinitignan natin kung paano natin mameme-maintain lamang ang bagsak ng daily decrease ng ating reservoir,” Dizon said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

(What we want to avoid is the drastic decline of our reservoir due to the consumption of our customers. Right now, we are looking at how we can maintain the daily decrease of our reservoir.)

As of 6 a.m. on Sunday, PAGASA said the reservoir water level in Angat Dam decreased to 201.70 meters from 201.93 meters on Saturday.

Angat Dam had a normal high water level of 212.00 meters.

“Ang minimum operating level kasi ng ating Angat Dam is nasa 180 meters, so kapag below 180 meters ang ating Angat Dam ay minimal ang isu-supply sa ating irrigation. Ang ating Angat Dam ay isang multi-purpose dam so ang gumagamit niyan ay ang domestic water supply for the Metro Manila and ang irrigation naman dito sa Bulacan,” Dizon explained.

(The minimum operating level of Angat Dam is 180 meters. So when the Angat Dam is below 180 meters, the supply to our irrigation will be minimal. Remember, Angat Dam is a multi-purpose dam so it gives domestic water supply for Metro Manila and irrigation in Bulacan.)

“Ayun ang ating iniiwasan natin, na bumagsak ang ating elevation ng reservoir hanggang 180 meters kasi by that time, ay minimal na lang ang ire-release sa ating irrigation,” he added.

(We’re avoiding having our reservoir elevation decline below 180 meters because, by that time, only a minimal supply would be released for irrigation.)

Should there be a water interruption, Dizon said the MWSS talked with west zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. (Maynilad) and east zone concessionaire Manila Water Company Inc. to have it concentrated between 8 p.m. or 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.

State weather bureau PAGASA said the El Niño would persist until March-April-May 2024, with a 74% chance of a transition to El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) neutral conditions in April-May-June 2024. — DVM, GMA Integrated News