MANILA, Philippines — Consumers should brace anew for possible water interruptions after the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) decided to cut the allocation for Metro Manila amid the continued drop in water levels at Angat Dam, the metropolis’ main water source, an official said yesterday.

The NWRB reduced the allocation for Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) to 46 cubic meters per second this month from the average 48 CMS while its allocation for irrigation remains suspended.

“We have to manage the releases because the level in Angat is already low. With the onset of the rainy season, we expect that it would help in the additional requirements,” NWRB executive director Sevillo David Jr. told The STAR.

The latest water level is at 164.02 meters, which is nearly 16 meters below the minimum operating level of 180 meters.

While there were intermittent rains in the past few days, NWRB said these have not significantly improved the water level in Angat Dam, which continues to decline daily due to the weak El Niño persisting in the country.

Despite the cut, NWRB maintained that it is not expecting significant changes in the supply but also assured that adjustments allocation may still be done.

Interruptions seen

However, east zone concessionaire Manila Water Co. Inc. said there may still be supply interruptions especially once Angat approaches the critical level of 160 meters, which may likely be breached by June 20 or earlier if there will not be enough rain at the Angat-Ipo watershed area.

West zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. said it is already trying to manage its supply given the low level of water in Angat Dam, with some areas – particularly the elevated portions – experiencing off-peak supply interruptions.

Maynilad said if the rains do not arrive as forecast by state weather experts in the second or third week of June, the firm may implement rotational supply interruptions.

The NWRB said mitigating measures, such as cloud seeding operations and the establishment of more deep wells, are ongoing.

Located in Barangay San Lorenzo (Hilltop) in Norzagaray, Bulacan, Angat Dam supplies 97 percent of Metro Manila’s water needs and powers the Angat hydroelectric power plant.

The 131-meter-high dam impounds water from the Angat River that subsequently created the Angat Lake.