With the onset of a possible El Niño phenomenon expected to begin in by the middle of the year, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) said they are monitoring the reservoir water level (RWL) in Angat dam, which supplies 90% of the water requirement in Metro Manila.
“Ang indication nila ay mag-start ng July pero masasabi nila na konkreto na meron El Niño by that time. Ang occurrence nito kung matuloy ang mild El Niño, this will happen by end of this year or early first quarter of 2024,” MWSS Deputy Administrator Jose Dorado said in a television interview.
(The indication is that it will start in July, they can say that there is a concrete El Niño by that time. The occurene if it will push through is that it will be mild El Niño, this will happen by end of this year or early first quarter of 2024)
The so-called El Niño phenomenon is an abnormal warming of sea surface temperature particularly in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. It is also characterized by below normal rainfall.
Presently, the reservoir water level (RWL) in Angat dam, remains normal at 206.79 meters from the 214 meters as of January.
Dorado said that the supply is sufficient for the summer season.
However, it should not be abused and the public should always bear in mind to save water.
“Dahil kapag ang isang area ay hindi nagtitipid ng tubig, gamit ng gamit ng excessive use of water, ‘yung ibang area nade-deplete ang supply nila dahil ang pressure ng water napupunta lang doon sa isa,” he said during the television interview.
“Hindi kami nagkukulang sa pagpapaalala sa tao na dapat magtipid ng tubig,” he added.
(If an area is not conserving water, they are using the water excessively, they deplete the other areas because the pressure of the wate is being allotted to the other side. We are not lacking in remining the public to consere water)
PAGASA on Tuesday officially declared the end of the La Niña phenomenon which first hit the country in 2021.
According to the state weather forecasters, the climate pattern will remain neutral from March to June.
They expect the El Niño to begin thereafter.
Catherine R. Cueto
