Should there still be no rainfall this May, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said the water level of Metro Manilla’s primary water source, Angat Dam, is expected to plummet to 176 meters, which is below the minimum operating level of 180.
As of Friday, May 3, Angat Dam’s water level is at 186.86 meters, the environment department said.
“If the water level goes down at 0.4 of a meter per day, that’s 12 meters per month times 30 days. So nasa 188 tayo meters nung May 1 and if you subtract 12 meters, it will become 176 by June 1, and if you subtract another 12, it will be 164 by July 1 (If the water level goes down at 0.4 of a meter per day, that's 12 meters per month times 30 days. So we were at 188 on May 1 and if you subtract 12 meters, it will become 176 by June 1, and if you subtract another 12, it will be 164 by July 1),” DENR Undersecretary of Integrated Environmental Science Carlos Primo David said darting an ambush interview in Quezon City on Friday, May 3.
The DENR official said the actual water level of Metro Manila’s main source of water is still not “alarming” but said the public must still conserve water to enjoy uninterrupted water service.
“Hindi pa alarming ‘yung actual water level (The actual water level is still not alarming). It’s still 6 meters above the minimum operating level of 180,” David said.
“And in our historical decline of water level, it is still slightly above historical level at this date,” he went on.
According to David, the continuous decline of the water level due to the El Niño phenomenon is what alarms the DENR.
The DENR undersecretary noted that the decline in water level they recorded on May 2 was 0.52 meter, saying this was the first time in last three years.
“What is alarming is the decline of water level. Yesterday (May 2), it declined by 0.52 of a meter. That is a decline I have not seen in recent times, I would say, because I look at it every day. Maybe in the last three years, walang (there’s no) 0.52,” he stated.
“We’re looking at the decline and reprojecting because it seems like it is no longer following the usual trend. Kasi it’s El Nino and we consume more relative to the previous years,” he added.
Prescribed Conservation Action
Seeking to conserve water amid the El Niño phenomenon, David said the DENR has a program dubbed as Prescribed Conservation Action or PCA.
Part of the program, he said, is water pressure management in households.
David said they are decreasing the water pressure in households from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
“Worse comes to worse, we’ll extend that. Never will still be no water but lower pressure. I think that’s better than zero,” the DENR official said.
“And it is rotating and we’re practicing that already, trina-try na ng two [concessionaires],” he added.
David said they will also put out conservation bulletins stating that the use of garden hoses for car washing and watering of plants is prohibited.
Using garden hoses consumes a lot of water, he said.
He said they are also prohibiting the use of inflatable pools.
David said they are seeking the help of the DENR in implementing such bulletins of the agency to conserve water.
“We are hoping the DILG will help us by directing the local officials—the barangay officials to implement the bulletins,” he said.
Not considering cutting water supply, rationing
On May 2, Environment Secretary Maria Antonia “Toni” Yulo-Loyzaga said cutting water supply and rationing water are still not being considered by the government despite the declining water supply due to the El Niño phenomenon.
“We do not anticipate as you might say, ‘extreme measures’—cutting off water as far as rationing is not part of our discussion,” she said.
“As much as possible (we) would not like for water disruptions to actually happen.”
When asked if the DENR plans to impose fines to force Filipinos to conserve water, Loyzaga said the imposition of fines is not within the agency’s authority.
Metro Manila is heavily reliant on Angat Dam as 90 percent of its water supply comes from it. Meanwhile, 10 percent of the metropolis’ water supply comes from other sources, including Laguna Lake, recycled water, and deep wells.