MWSS: Water supply in summer 2024 sufficient despite El Niño

The water supply in the country will be sufficient this coming summer despite the impending effects of the El Niño phenomenon, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) said Tuesday.

In a public briefing, MWSS Division Manager Engineer Patrick Dizon said Angat Dam—which is the source of water supply in Metro Manila and the nearby provinces of Cavite, Rizal, and Bulacan—has been prepared for El Niño.

“Sa ngayon ay nasa 213.49 meters ‘yung elevation niya. Mas mataas ito sa ating tinatarget na normal water elevation na 212 meters. This summer ay ina-assure natin ang ating kababayan na magiging sufficient ang tubig natin,” he added.

(Angat Dam’s water elevation is currently at 213.49 meters. This is higher than our water elevation target of 212 meters. Thus, this summer, we assure the public that our water supply will be sufficient.)

In July 2023, state weather bureau PAGASA declared the start of the El Niño phenomenon in the Tropical Pacific, with its effects expected in the Philippines. This may last until the first quarter of 2024 or longer.

Dizon said that part of MWSS’ augmentation measures to find additional water sources was the construction of two water treatment plants near Laguna Lake.

One of the plants was inaugurated in December 2023. The other plant will open in the first quarter of 2024.

Despite this, the MWSS official admitted there may still be water interruptions this year, but these would not be due to a lack of water supply.

“May iba’t iba tayong reasons kung bakit nagkakaroon ng water interruption—ito ang mga leak repair, plant maintenance, pump station maintenance, meter replacement. Ito lang ang nakikita natin na mga reason kung bakit magkakaroon ng interruption, kasi sa ngayon ay sufficient naman ang ating tubig na nanggagaling sa Angat Dam,” Dizon explained.

(Different reasons cause water interruptions—these are leak repairs, plant maintenance, pump station maintenance, and meter replacement. These would be the only reasons there would be an interruption because right now, the water coming from Angat Dam is sufficient.)

President Ferdinand ”Bongbong” Marcos Jr. earlier said Task Force El Niño would be restructured as there was a need for more extensive measures to mitigate the effects of El Niño. — DVM, GMA Integrated News