Despite the onset of the rainy season, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) warns that water supply for Metro Manila continues to fall below critical levels.

The MWSS issued an urgent appeal to the public to use water wisely as water level in the Angat Dam continues to drop despite prevailing rains in the cities.

MWSS officials said the water level in Angat Dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan, Metro Manila’s only source of drinking water is at 158.91 meters as of 6:00 a.m. of July 8, already below the critical level of 180 meters.

Despite the almost daily rains in the metropolis, only a minimal amount of rainfall has fallen over the Angat Watershed and has not increased the level in the dam at all.

Angat Dam continues to drop by an average of 1 centimeter per hour or about 24 centimeters per day bringing its current level to about 22 to 28 meters lower than the normal level of 182 to 188 meters during this time of the year based on the Angat Rule Curve.

The MWSS, together with the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) and the National Power Corporation, continue to monitor the drop in the levels of Angat because of the extended El Niño and has called on the concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water to implement mitigation measures.

According to MWSS officials, this is one of the driest seasons on record, even drier than the 1998 El Niño where Angat level reached 158.29 meters in September 13 of that year, the lowest level thus far recorded in Angat in its entire history of operation.

At the rate the level is decreasing, Angat Dam will hit the 158-meter level in about 4 days.

“We are strongly urging the public to save water and use water wisely. We need the support of everyone so we can stretch the available supply until the rains will be able to normalize the levels in Angat,” said the MWSS.

MWSS is urging residents of Metro Manila and the nearby Rizal and Cavite Provinces to be more vigilant and report all leaks, illegal connections and unauthorized withdrawal of water from fire hydrants to the MWSS Hotline Tubig at 8888-244, Manila Water Hotline at 1627, and Maynilad Water Hotline at 1626.