Critical and essential operations to ensure sufficient water supply in the National Capital Region (NCR) and its surrounding provinces have continued despite the restrictions imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said in President Duterte’s Sept. 20 public address that the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) pushed through with its infrastructure works in preventing water supply issues.
Nograles said Angat Dam raw water allocation increased from 40 cubic meters per second or 3452 million liters per day (MLD) to 46 cubic meters per second or 4000 MLD.
“Ni-rationalize na rin po nila ‘yung 60:40 sharing of raw water para to ensure na ang ating mga kababayan ay may tubig for 24 hours. Iyong regular water pressure reduction natin, 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.,” he said.
He said the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) has requested the National Power Corporation (Napocor) last 2020 “to suspend spilling operations” to maintain a 213-meter Angat dam water elevation for the summer months.
“Ang iba pang measures na ginawa nila ‘yung pag-optimize ng operations ng deep wells at nag-develop ng more wells sa areas na may ground water availability,” he said.
“[May] additional water storage, pipelines, and pumping facilities para ma-increase ang reserba ng ating water systems. They improved ‘yung water conservation efforts natin,” he added.
The official said concessionaires’ imported requirements were also facilitated amid travel restrictions, while a moratorium was imposed on bill payments of the public.
Meanwhile, all wastewater facilities are fully compliant with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) DAO No. 2016-08 on Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards.
Preparations are likewise ongoing for the following major infrastructure projects:
Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project
Bigte Novaliches Aqueduct No. 7 Project
New Centennial Water Source Kaliwa Dam Project
Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Project
Sumag River Diversion Project
Umiray-Angat Transbasin Facilities Long-Term Rehabilitation Project
Feasibility Study for the Construction of Ipo Dam 3
Long-Term Water Resource Development for Metro Manila
-AG- bny
