In order to prepare for the impending effects of the El Niño phenomenon, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Water Resources Management Office (DENR-WRMO) on Sunday extended the reach of its water conservation mandate to residents of Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
All barangay officials, condominium and subdivision managers, and residents are subject to DENR Bulletin No. 2, which orders them to cut back on “activities that consume a large amount of water, such as watering the lawn and washing vehicles.”
“As we prepare for even drier conditions due to El Niño, it is, more than ever, important to conserve water in order to prevent massive water interruptions later this year,” the DENR said in a statement.
Local government units in Metro Manila were instructed to speed up the approval of pipe repairs for water concessionaires Manila Water and Maynilad. It was further stated that residents of the aforementioned areas were urged to encourage rainwater collection for non-potable uses of water as well as the reuse of wastewater.
The second advisory was released, according to DENR, as the Angat Dam’s water level, which supplies 97 percent of Metro Manila’s water needs, continues to drop as a result of the El Niño phenomenon.
The DENR reported that as of July 8, the water level at Angat Dam was 179.99 meters, below the 180-meter minimum operating level, citing the National Water Resources Board.
