WITH water shortage in Metro Manila again looming in the horizon, AMA Water assured the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) that its commitment to deliver the first water by summer of 2021 under its 50 megaliters per day (mld) bulk water supply project with Manila Water is still on track.
PAGASA has recently reported that water levels at both Angat and Ipo Dams have been dipping low lately despite the rains which have not substantially replenished both dams to their usual highs of 210 meters (m) and 101 m, respectively. Angatâs level stood at 187.49 m and Ipoâs at 100.69 which do not sound comforting to both water concessionaires.
AMA Water chief operating officer Charles Sullivan said their proposal is now under assessment by the MWSS-RO (Regulatory Office) consultant after it was initially approved by the MWSS Board in July.
Along with Manila Water Company, Inc.âs (MWCI âs) East Bay project, the AMA Water project is the only bulk water supply project that can deliver new water to Metro Manila within 18 months to avert another shortfall in the summer of 2021. Angat Dam has supplied some 90 percent of Metro Manilaâs water requirements for many decades now without recourse to other equally big sources. Sullivan said AMA WATER will âpull all the stopsâ to get this project on stream by summer of 2021. He was confident that issues raised on the water quality of Laguna Lake can be addressed effectively by using a combination of reverse osmosis and membrane technologies.
The AMA GROUP Holdings holds a 300 mld water rights at Laguna Lake as granted by The LLDA (Laguna Lake Development Authority). Laguna Lake is the countryâs biggest freshwater resource at 92,000 hectares spanning the provinces of Rizal, Laguna and Cavite as well as parts of Metro Manila. President Duterte has underlined the urgent need for water security as the Philippine population continues to grow especially in Metro Manila. Other new sources in the pipeline include Kaliwa and Wawa dams with the former still embroiled in some issues that could potentially derail its immediate implementation./PN
