By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — State water regulators have tightened the water supply for Metro Manila after ordering another reduction in the allocation from Angat Dam, as the country’s largest reservoir continues to experience an unprecedented drop in water levels.
The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) has lowered the allocation for the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) from 48 cubic meters per second (CMS) to 46 CMS, with the adjustment taking effect until July 30.
According to NWRB Executive Director Sevillano David Jr., the move is part of efforts to stretch the remaining water supply while authorities closely monitor the condition of Angat Dam amid limited rainfall.
Monitoring data from the Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office showed the reservoir’s elevation slipped further to 152.85 meters, placing it significantly below the 160-meter critical threshold and well under its 180-meter minimum operating level.
The latest reading marks the lowest water level ever recorded at Angat Dam, surpassing the previous record set in 2010 and highlighting the worsening impact of the prolonged dry conditions.
Angat Dam serves as the principal source of potable water for millions of residents in Metro Manila. It also provides irrigation water to agricultural areas in Bulacan and Pampanga and supplies water for hydroelectric power generation that supports the Luzon power grid.
Officials said the reduced allocation is intended to safeguard available water reserves while awaiting improved inflows into the reservoir. They stressed that water levels will continue to be assessed regularly and that additional adjustments may be considered should the situation fail to improve.
The NWRB likewise appealed to households, businesses, and industries to adopt water-saving practices, emphasizing that public cooperation remains vital in preserving the country’s most critical water resource during the continuing decline in Angat Dam’s water level.
ia/xf
