CRITICAL. A photo taken on July 6, 2023 shows the water level of Angat Dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan at critical level of 180.67 meters. Patrick Dizon, a division manager at the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System’s site operations management, on Thursday (July 13) said at least four storms are expected to fill the reservoir and slow down the reduction of its water level from July to September. (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)
MANILA – The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) said Thursday the projected rainfalls induced by the southwest monsoon could replenish the Angat Dam's supply.
In a Laging Handa public briefing, Patrick Dizon, a division manager at the MWSS' site operations management, said at least four storms this month are also expected to fill the reservoir and slow down the reduction of its water level.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that as of 6 a.m. Thursday, the water level in Angat Dam was at 178.03 meters, which was below the 180-meter minimum operating level.
"Sa ngayon po, sa magdamag po ay nakaranas po tayo ng ulan po sa ating watershed, kaya po bahagya po niyang napabagal po iyong pagbaba po ng ating elevation sa Angat reservoir. So, itong mga ini-expect po natin na mga apat na bagyo ay ini-enhance po nitong ating tinatawag na habagat at magpaulan po sa ating mga watershed po sa Angat (Right now, the continuous rainfall in our watershed has slowed down the reduction of the water elevation of the Angat reservoir. So, these four typhoons that we're expecting could enhance the southwest monsoon and bring rains in our watershed in Angat)," Dizon said.
"So, sa mga ganitong buwan po kasi hanggang September base na din po sa historical data natin ay nari-replenish naman po ng ating reservoir at tumataas po ang level (Based on historical data, it is during these months until September that we replenish our reservoir and the water level increases)," he added.
Dizon assured that the MWSS and water concessionaires would maximize the expected rains to cushion the effect of water interruptions.
"Iyon naman po iyong pangako po natin na kung mayroon po tayong pag-uulan na nai-experience sa ating watershed iyon po ay ima-maximize natin at para magamit po natin para mabawasan po iyong inyong number of hours na ma-interrupt (If we experience rains in our watershed, then we will maximize these so that we could reduce the number of hours of water service interruptions)," he said.
Customers of water utility Maynilad in portions of Caloocan, Malabon, Manila, Navotas, Quezon City and Valenzuela have started experiencing up to nine hours of daily water service interruption since July 12 due to a decrease in the water level at Angat Dam. (PNA)
