The water level of Angat Dam has dropped to 182.24 meters, or 0.21 meters less than its previous level of 182.45 meters, according to the latest monitoring of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
PAGASA said it was 6 a.m. on Sunday when the water level in Angat was only 0.46 meters over its rule curve elevation or the minimum level required for the dam to function properly.
Angat Dam provides more than 90% of Metro Manila's potable water demands, as well as irrigation for 25,000 hectares of agriculture in Bulacan and Pampanga.
In response to the El Niño threat, the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) reduced the water allocation for Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water by two cubic meters per second (CMS) on Saturday.
NWRB executive director Sevillo David Jr. stated that the installation of 50 CMS from the previous 52 CMS for the two water concessionaires intends to control the water from Angat Dam.
David said that the 50 CMS water allocation for the two water concessionaires and the 28.5 CMS irrigation allocation will remain in effect for the full month of July.
He added that the next few weeks and months are critical in order to improve the water level of the country's dams.
The impact of the decrease in water allocation has yet to be announced by the two water concessionaires.
Before the 52 CMS water allotment took effect on April 15, 2023, areas served by Maynilad faced daily water cuts ranging from eight to fourteen hours.
Maynilad consumers in Manila, Quezon City, Makati, Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas, and Malabon were among those affected by the previous rotational water outage; the cities of Cavite, Bacoor, and Imus; and the towns of Kawit, Noveleta, and Rosario in Cavite.
On the other hand, water levels in four other dams decreased, including Ambuklao Dam in Benguet, which decreased to 748.72 meters, or 0.47 meters less than its previous level of 749.19 meters; Binga Dam in Benguet, 571.39 meters, or 0.25 meters less than its previous level of 571.64 meters; Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija, 180.70 meters, or 0.20 meters less than 180.90 meters; and Caliraya Dam in Laguna, 286.65 meters, or 0.17 meters less than its previous level of 286.82 meters.
