EXPLAINER: It's the rainy season, but why does the water shortage continue?
Summary
TLDRIn 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
🌊 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.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Water Crisis
💡El Nino
💡Lamas Dam
💡Angat Dam
💡Water Rationing
💡Infrastructure
💡Kaliwa Dam
💡Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS)
💡National Water Resources Board (NWRB)
💡Rainy Season
💡Water Allocation
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
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