MANILA – The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) on Monday encouraged the public to help conserve water as it plans to reduce water allocation for concessionaires and irrigation.

NWRB executive director Atty. Ricky Azardo said the board is set to give the go signal to the proposal to lessen the supply from Angat Dam to the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and National Irrigation Administration (NIA).

Angat Dam's water level continues to decline with no rains expected in the coming days due to the ongoing effects of El Niño.  

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said last week that the NWRB will likely bring down the allocation for water concessionaires to 48 cubic meters per second by April.

Azardo said the board will meet on Monday to discuss the allocation.

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“We’re going to present to the board for approval. A lesser allocation for MWSS as well as NIA. We are conserving water right now, medyo bumaba na ang dam. Binaba po namin yung usual water allocation for MWSS and NIA, but definitely bumaba sila for the coming month,” Azardo said in an interview at the sidelines of a World Water Day event in Quezon City.

Azardo said they will give out further advisories once the plan is finalized.

While the official assured there will continue to be enough supply of water for Metro Manila, they are implementing the measure to anticipate a decrease in Angat Dam, which serves as the main source of water for the capital region.

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As of Monday morning, the water level in Angat Dam was monitored at 201 meters–lower than its normal level of 212 meters, but still above the 180-meter minimum water level.

“Kailangan lang po talaga mag-conserve tayo, ‘yon po ang pinaka-importante. Magtulong-tulong po tayo mag conserve ng water para sa Angat at Metro Manila, nakikiusap po kami sa lahat,” Azardo said.

MWSS concessionaire Manila Water, which services 1.17 million customers in Metro Manila and Rizal, earlier said the allocation reduction will likely result in reduced water pressure for consumers.

The company said it will issue advisories a day before the actual pressure reduction or water interruption.

Maynilad, meanwhile, said its 1.6 million customers can expect pressure reduction and possibly water service interruption once the allocation drops to 48 cubic meters per second from the normal 50  cubic meters per second.

But Maynilad said its consumers do not need to store water this early since it still has enough supply.