Maynilad, Manila Water warn of water shortages in 2015

Both Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Company Inc. on Tuesday warned of possible water shortages in 2015 .

In a report on GMA 7's “24 Oras”, Maynilad explained that because Angat Dam recently released water for irrigation for three days, despite the dam's low water level, almost two million of their customers would experience water shortages in 2015. Another six million customers would also suffer from weaker water pressure.



"We are not threatening anyone. We are not trying to scare anyone. We are trying to prepare for a probable El Niño, which is based on our analysis is really probable, will occur this October to March," said Manila Water group director for operations Ding Carpio.

Engr. Ronald Padua, head of Maynilad's water supply operations added that there could also be an effect on water quality. “And we need to prepare our plants to be able to address the manganese and iron," he elaborated.

However, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) was perplexed with Maynilad's and Manila Water's warnings. "Mag-uulan pa naman po hanggang November, 'di ba? So why panic about it at this stage," asked NIA administrator Engr. Florencio Padernal.

The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) had allocated the NIA irrigation water until the end of  August. But because of Monday night 's heavy downpour, the agency stopped providing Bulacan and Pampanga's rice farms Angat Dam water.

Padernal also countered the water concessionaires' warning with his own, arguing that if Angat did did not provide irrigation water, rice production would be affected.

The NWRB also argued that the water companies were just speculating, and Engr. Jorge Estioko, deputy executive director of the NWRB suggested, "Mas maganda kung sabihin nilang magtipid-tipid tayo in view of yung ganyang scenario. Hindi 'yung mapapaaga ang water shortage.",

Maynilad and Manila Water, however, said that Angat Dam's current water level of 177 meters made it unlikely that it would rise to a target level of 210 meters before the year ends. So whether or not an El Niño occurs, there would be problems with next year's water supply.,

Around 70 percent of Metro Manila's water comes from Angat Dam, while, almost all of Pampanga's and Bulacan's farms rely on Angat for irrigation. — Tricia Macas/DVM, GMA News