EXPLAINER: It's the rainy season, but why does the water shortage continue?

Summary

In March, the Philippines faced its worst water crisis, with Manila and Rizal province cities experiencing severe shortages attributed to El Nino and low water levels in the Angat Dam. Despite the rainy season, water levels continue to plummet, leading to rationing by concessionaires. The crisis highlights the government and private sector's failure to expand water infrastructure, with a ballooning population and no new water sources. Proposed solutions like the Kaliwa Dam face opposition and displacement issues. The shortage persists, with recovery expected only by late summer or early fall.

Takeaways

• 🌊 The Philippines faced its worst water crisis in March, with officials unable to predict an end to the shortage until rainfall improved the situation.
• 🌧️ The water level of Ganga Dam continued to drop even during the rainy season, leading to water rationing by concessionaires.
• 📅 In March and April, the water shortage in Metro Manila was so severe that residents had to line up for water from fire trucks.
• 🌡️ The crisis occurred during the hottest months of the year, exacerbating the impact on the public.
• 💧 Manila Water attributed the shortage to mild El Nino and low water levels in the Lamas dam, but the root cause was deeper.
• 🏙️ Approximately 96% of Metro Manila's water supply comes from Angad dam, highlighting the city's reliance on a single source.
• 🔄 The water shortage persisted for months, affecting millions of patients and the daily lives of residents.
• 🏛️ The government and private sector were criticized for failing to expand water resource infrastructure, with no new water sources built to accommodate the growing population.
• 💡 The proposed Kilawit dam could potentially provide an additional 600 million liters per day, but it faces opposition from environmentalists and concerns over displacement.
• 💰 The construction of the Kilawit dam is estimated to cost 12.2 billion pesos, with 85% of the funding expected from China.
• 📉 The National Water Resources Board reduced its allocation to concessionaires, which may have contributed to the ongoing water shortage despite the rainy season.
• 🌧️ Despite the rainy season, the water levels in dams continue to drop, indicating that recovery may take months, affecting the water supply until August or September.

Q & A

What was the situation in the Philippines in March regarding the water crisis?

In March, the Philippines experienced its worst water crisis, with officials being asked about the end of the shortage. Water levels in Ganga Dam continued to drop, and water rationing was implemented.

What was the impact of the water shortage on residents in Metro Manila?

Residents in Metro Manila faced severe water shortages, with some having to line up all day to get water from fire trucks. The crisis affected millions of patients and was particularly hard on the young and elderly.

What was Manila Water's explanation for the water shortage in March and April?

Manila Water blamed the mild El Nino and the low water level in the Lamas atom for the water shortage that affected at least six Metro Manila cities and seven towns in Rizal province.

What percentage of Metro Manila's water needs are supplied by Angat dam?

Around 96 percent of Metro Manila's water needs are supplied by Angat dam.

How did the government and private sector's failure to expand water resource infrastructure contribute to the crisis?

The failure to expand water resource infrastructure, coupled with the ballooning population of Metro Manila to 12 million residents, contributed to the water shortage crisis.

What is the role of the Metropolitan Water Works and Sewerage System (MWSS) in the water crisis?

The MWSS is considered the 'orchestra conductor' in the water crisis, as it is the government's responsibility to source water, and one of its officials admitted that it is ultimately to blame.

What is the proposed solution involving the Kaliwa dam, and what is its projected cost?

The proposed Kaliwa dam is projected to provide an additional 600 million liters per day for Metro Manila and would cost twelve point two billion pesos to build, with 85% set to be funded by China.

What are the concerns regarding the construction of the Kaliwa dam?

Environmentalists oppose the construction of the Kaliwa dam due to environmental concerns, and it is also expected to displace thousands of residents in Quezon Province.

What action did the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) take in June 2019 to address the water shortage?

In June 2019, the NWRB reduced its allocation for the concessionaires from 46 cubic meters per second to 40 cubic meters per second to lessen the effect of the limited water supply.

Why did the water levels in the dams continue to drop despite the rainy season?

The water levels in the dams continued to drop because the rainfall was not sufficient, and it may take two to three more months before the dam recovers, suggesting that the situation may persist until August or September.

What is the current situation regarding the water shortage as of the script's recording?

As of the script's recording, the water shortage persists, and the situation may not improve significantly until the dam recovers, which could be as late as August or September.

Outlines

00:00

🌊 Philippines' Water Crisis and Rationing

In March, the Philippines faced its worst water crisis, with officials unable to predict an end to the shortage until significant rainfall occurred. The water level of Ganga Dam continued to decline during the rainy season, leading to water rationing by concessionaires. The crisis began in the hottest months, affecting millions of Metro Manila residents. Manila Water attributed the shortage to mild El Nino and low water levels in the Lamas atom, but the root cause was the failure to expand water infrastructure to meet the growing population of 12 million. The government and private sector were criticized for not building new water sources, and the Metropolitan Water Works and Sewerage System (MWSS) was held responsible for sourcing water. The proposed Kilawit Dam, which would cost 12.2 billion pesos and be 85% funded by China, faced opposition from environmentalists and concerns over displacement. The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) reduced water allocation for concessionaires, which may lessen the impact of the limited supply. Despite the rainy season, water levels at dams continued to drop, and recovery was not expected until August or September.

Keywords

💡Water Crisis

A water crisis refers to a situation where there is a severe shortage of water, often due to natural or man-made factors. In the video, the Philippines is experiencing its worst water crisis in March, which underscores the main theme of the video. The crisis is evident in the rationing of water by concessionaires and the dropping water levels of the Ganga Dam.

💡El Nino

El Nino is a climate pattern characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, which can affect weather conditions globally. The video mentions 'mild El Nino' as one of the reasons for the water shortage, indicating its role in exacerbating the crisis by causing drier conditions.

💡Lamas Dam

A dam is a barrier constructed to hold back water, often creating a reservoir for various uses, including drinking water supply. The Lamas Dam is specifically mentioned in the script as having a low water level, which is a direct cause of the water shortage in Metro Manila.

💡Angat Dam

The Angat Dam is a critical water source for Metro Manila, supplying around 96 percent of the region's water needs. The video discusses the importance of the Angat Dam in the context of the water crisis, highlighting its central role in the region's water supply.

💡Water Rationing

Water rationing is the controlled distribution of water to ensure that it is available to all, often implemented during times of scarcity. The video script describes water rationing by water concessionaires as a response to the water shortage, illustrating the severity of the situation.

💡Infrastructure

Infrastructure refers to the basic physical and organizational structures needed for a society to function, such as water supply systems. The video points out the failure of both government and private sectors to expand water resource infrastructure, contributing to the ongoing water crisis.

💡Kaliwa Dam

The Kaliwa Dam is a proposed project mentioned in the video, which is expected to provide an additional 600 million liters per day for Metro Manila. It represents a potential solution to the water crisis, but its construction is controversial and faces opposition from environmentalists.

💡Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS)

The MWSS is the government-run entity responsible for waterworks and sewage system in the Metro Manila area. The video script indicates that MWSS is the 'orchestra conductor' in the water crisis, emphasizing its role in managing the water supply.

💡National Water Resources Board (NWRB)

The NWRB is responsible for the allocation of water resources in the Philippines. In the context of the video, the NWRB reduced its allocation for concessionaires, which directly affected the water supply available to the public during the crisis.

💡Rainy Season

The rainy season is a period of the year characterized by increased rainfall, which typically replenishes water sources. Despite being in the rainy season, the video notes that the water levels in dams continue to drop, indicating that the crisis is not solely weather-related.

💡Water Allocation

Water allocation refers to the distribution of water resources among various users. The video discusses the reduction in water allocation by the NWRB from 46 cubic meters per second to 40 cubic meters per second, which is a measure to cope with the limited water supply.

Highlights

The Philippines experienced its worst water crisis in March, with officials unable to predict an end to the shortage.

The water level of Ganga Dam continues to drop nearly two weeks into the rainy season.

Water concessionaires are rationing water due to the ongoing shortage.

In March and April, Manila faced a severe water shortage during the hottest months of the year.

Manila water supply was cut in at least six Metro Manila cities and seven towns in Rizal province.

Manila Water blamed mild El Nino and low water levels in the Lamas atom for the shortage.

Approximately 96 percent of Metro Manila's water needs are supplied by Angad dam.

The water shortage persisted for months, causing residents to line up for water from fire trucks.

The crisis affected millions of patients and was a result of the failure to expand water resource infrastructure.

No new water sources have been built while the population of Metro Manila has grown to 12 million residents.

The government-run Metropolitan Water Works and Sewage System (MWSS) is considered the main orchestrator of the crisis.

The proposed Kilawit dam is projected to provide an additional 600 million liters per day for Metro Manila.

The construction of Kilawit dam would cost 12.2 billion pesos, with 85% funded by China.

Environmentalists oppose the dam, and it would displace thousands of residents in Quezon Province.

In June 2019, the National Water Resources Board reduced its allocation for concessionaires to lessen the effect of the limited water supply.

Despite the rainy season, water levels in dams continue to drop due to insufficient rainfall.

It may take two to three more months before the dam recovers, suggesting a prolonged water crisis.

Transcripts

when the Philippines experienced its

worst water crisis in March officials

were asked when the shortage would end

actually the answer is easy until it

rains nearly two weeks into the rainy

season the water level of Ganga Dam

continues to drop and water

concessionaires are again rationing

water to understand the shortage in June

let's rewind to March in April when our

taps went dry during the hottest months

of the year on Thursday March 7 Manila

water cut water supply in at least six

Metro Manila cities and seven towns in

Rizal province Manila water blamed the

mild El Nino and the low water level in

the Lamas atom but this is not the big

picture around 96 percent of Metro

Manila's water needs are supplied by

Angad dam the water shortage persisted

for days the days turned into weeks the

weeks into months residents lined up all

day to get water from fire trucks the

six suffered the most special young

effect of this shortage to our patient

we announced a few million patients the

crisis was the result of the failure of

government as well as a private sector

to expand this on water resource

infrastructure no water sources have

been built recently while the population

of Metro Manila has ballooned to 12

million residents while utility company

Manila water is part of the problem the

government-run Metropolitan Water Works

and sewage system or MW SS is the

orchestra conductor that wields the

baton one of its officials admitted it

is ultimately to blame because it is the

responsibility of government to source

all this water the proposed kilowatt dam

is projected to provide an additional

600 million liters per day for Metro

Manila the kilowatt dam would cost

twelve point two billion pesos to build

with 85% set to be funded by China if

work starts on the Cali WA dam today it

would not be operational until after the

Detroit the administration is out of

office environmentalists

oppose it it will also displace

thousands of residents in Quezon

Province back to June 2019 the National

Water Resources Board or MWR B reduces

its allocation for the concessionaires

from 46 cubic meters per second to 40

CMS the end WRB says this will lessen

the effect of limited water supply in

the coming days why despite the rainy

season this watering and got-damn

continue to drop upon see new young

vilaça norzagaray area hindi fuga known

calacas young moulin de anza mabe and an

eastern section a malakas Bodie told

need to posit into my bathroom and an

western section so you and that poor

unfortunately may you learn pair of life

Lanka hand depot to my assumed Toby and

got damn hit critical level Saturday

June 22 at 160 meters it may be raining

but it's not raining a lot over Bulacan

it may take two to three more months

before the dam recovers or by August or

September so rain or shine the shortage

persists