Balagat, Kimberly B. Homework No.

CE143/C22 October 11, 2017

Water Supply Sources

Philippines Water Supply Sector Assessment

According to the searchable database of the World Resources Institute, the

Philippines has total annual renewable water resources of 479 billion cubic meters (m³) from
its surface water and groundwater sources. This translates into an annual per capita
availability of about 6,100 m³, which is twice that of the rest of Asia, and 6 times the global
scarcity threshold of 1,000 m³. The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) estimates total
available groundwater supply to be 20,200 million m³/year. Based on an 80% probability for
surface water, the total dependable surface water supply is 206,230 million m³/year, implying
a total mean supply of 226,430 million m³/year. Agricultural use accounts for 83% to 85% of
this amount, the remainder being shared by the industrial, commercial, and domestic sectors.
Growing population especially in the urban areas together with water pollution, wasteful and
inefficient use, continued denudation of forest cover (particularly in watersheds), and
saltwater intrusion caused by excessive withdrawal of groundwater (particularly in the
metropolitan area of Cebu, Davao City, and certain areas of Metro Manila), are the major
challenges facing the country’s water resources (Asian Development Bank, 2013).

Philippine Surface Water and Groundwater Resources

The Philippines obtains its water supply from different sources. These include:
rainfall, surface water resources, i.e. rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, and groundwater
resources. It has 18 major river basins and 421 principal river basins as defined by the
National Water Regulatory Board (NWRB).

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) reports that there are 79 lakes
in the country, mostly utilized for fish production. Laguna Lake is the country’s largest lake
with a total area of 3,813.2 sq. km and is also one of the largest lakes in Southeast Asia. Lake
Lanao, the largest lake in Mindanao, is one of the 17 ancient lakes on earth (Environmental
Management Bureau, 2006).

In terms of groundwater, the country has an extensive groundwater reservoir with an

aggregate area of about 50,000 sq.km. Data from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)
show that several groundwater basins are underlaid by about 100,000 sq km of various rock
formation and that these resources are from different location. Groundwater resources are
continuously recharged by rain and seepage from rivers and lakes (PEM, 2003; EMB, 2006).

As a tropical country, rainfall in the Philippines ranges from 1000 to 4000 mm per
year, of which 1,000-2,000 mm are collected as runoff by a natural topography of more than
421 principal river basins, some 59 natural lakes and numerous small streams, with
significant variation from one area to another due to the direction of the moisture-bearing
winds and the location of the mountain ranges (Kho, J., 2005; NWRB, 2003).

Overall, the Philippines’ total available freshwater resource is at 145,900 MCM/year

based on 80 percent probability for surface water, and groundwater recharge or extraction at
20,000 MCM/year (NWRB-SPM, 2003; PEM, 2003; ASEAN, 2005).

Theoretically, the freshwater storage capacity and the high rate of precipitation
assure the country an adequate supply for its agricultural, industrial and domestic uses.
However, seasonal variations are considerable and geographic distribution is biased, often
resulting in water shortages in highly populated areas, especially during the dry season. Data
from the Philippines Environment Monitor (PEM) show that while some regions are endowed
with high potential source of surface water, others have limited supplies.

The report also mentions that groundwater contributes 14 percent of the total water
resource potential of the country.

As noted in the table above, Region II or Cagayan Valley has the highest potential
source of groundwater, while Region X or Northern Mindanao has the highest potential
source of surface water. On the other hand, Central Visayas has the lowest potential source
for both groundwater and surface water.

This same report projects that by year 2025, water availability deficit would take place
in several river basins such as in Pampanga and Agno, in Pasig-Laguna, in Cagayan Valley,
all other regions in Luzon, in Jalaur and Ilog Hilabangan, and in the island of Cebu in
Visayas.

In general, water deficits are said to be time and site-specific.

 Data from the JICA Master Plan on Water Resource Management in the Philippines
estimate that only 1,907 cubic meters of fresh water would be available to each person each
year, making the Philippines second to the lowest among Southeast Asian countries with
fresh water availability (Greenpeace, 2007).

Metro Manila Water Supply System

The main sources of Metro Manila’s water supply are the Angat, Ipo, and La Mesa
Dams. The water from these dams are then processed by the La Mesa and Balara Treatment
Plants, which converts it from a raw state to clean and potable water.

The water from the Angat Dam, the major supply source for the metropolis, is
funneled directly to Ipo Dam. It then flows a distance of 6.4 kilometers to Bicti, after which
it passes through five aqueducts—each about 16 kilometers long—to the La Mesa Dam and
the La Mesa Portal. From the La Mesa Portal, 60% of the flow goes to the nearby La Mesa
Treatment Plant, out of which another 40% again travels a distance of 6.8 kilometers to the
Balara Treatment Plant. The La Mesa Water Treatment Plant, with very minimal
electromechanical equipment, relies mostly on water’s hydraulic properties to backwash its
filter and gravity to convey raw water from the source into the plant and out into the
distribution system.

It can only process 2,400 MLD (million liters per day) of raw water, while the Balara
Treatment Plant, which has a full production capacity of 1,600 MLD, can supply more than
6 million people throughout the metropolis.

When both Balara and La Mesa Treatment Plants are operation, the total processing
capacity will be 4,000 mld. The La Mesa Water Treatment Plant serves the western half of
Metro Manila, while the existing Balara Water Treatment Plant supplies the eastern half
(Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, 2017).

Water Security Legacy Roadmap

The MWSS, under a new administration, has taken on the formidable task of
establishing a legacy for the benefit of 15 million Metro Manila residents. The Water
Security Legacy (WSL) project seeks to address critical concerns that for years have hindered
the development of a comprehensive water development plan for MWSS.
 The WSL project, which started in July 2011, intends to draw out the collaborative
energies of MWSS, its two concessionaires, and other stakeholders for the common good. The
overall objective is to develop plans and strategies that will address key issues in seven focus
areas, namely:

1. Water Infrastructure Development and Resource Management Protection

2. Sewerage and Sanitation
3. Water Distribution Efficiency
4. Tariff Rationalization and Business Plan Review
5. Partnership Development
6. Communications and Knowledge Management
7. Organizational Excellence
The Planning Team for each focus area will identify the scope of work, roles and
responsibilities, action plans, and timetables for integration and presentation to the Steering
Team and top management (Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, 2017).

Future Water Sources and Adequacy

A national roadmap for the water sector is now being pushed to ensure the country's
water supply sustainability amid the foreseen water crisis looming in the next few decades.
The said national roadmap culminated during the National Water Summit last June in
Manila aims to gather industry stakeholders to tackle issues concerning the water sector and
the crisis foreseen in the future. Legates had stressed the need to consolidate all water
agencies in the country and craft a roadmap for sustainable water use.

A study by the World Resources Institute revealed that the Philippines will likely
experience severe water shortage by 2040 due to the combined impact of rapid population
growth and climate change. Furthermore, the Philippines ranks 57 out of 167 countries that
are highly vulnerable to severe water shortage.

Data from the Department of Health shows that around 8 million Filipinos still openly
defecate as they have no access to sanitary facilities.

Stricter implementation of the Rainwater Collection and Harvesting Act which

requires the building of catchments in homes and public and private buildings, so that
rainwater can later be used for cleaning, watering gardens, and other industrial purposes
has also been called.

Water security is not only about the provision of sufficient water for the needs of
people and economic activities, it is also about having healthy ecosystems and building
resilience to water-related disasters, including storms, floods and droughts. Extreme weather
events, such as intense or more frequent rains and increasing number of hot days, along with
weak resource management are factors that lead to low water security.

According to the Asian Water Development Outlook (AWDO), a joint report by the
Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Asia-Pacific Water Forum (APWF), water insecurity
in the region is caused primarily by inappropriate management practices rather than
physical scarcity of water.

To address this, the AWDO developed a water security framework based on five key
dimensions for household, economic, urban, environmental, and resilience to water-related
disasters. Low water security in these key dimensions can cause economic damages
equivalent to up to 2 percent of the GDP.

Water management resources in the Philippines improved in the past three years.

In 2013, the country scored 35 in the National Water Security (NWS) Index; it
increased to 40.4 in the 2016 report. However, of the 5 NWS stages, the Philippines is still at
number 2 or Engaged, which means that more than half the people have access to modest
drinking water and sanitation facilities; water service delivery is starting to develop,
supporting economic activities; first measures are taken to improve water quality; and first
attempts are being made to address water-related risks (Lorenciana, 2017).

Phase 2 of Angat Dam’s rehabilitation has already been started. It is aimed at

strengthening the dam’s structure to withstand a powerful earthquake and experts are
hoping that this could extend the dam’s life by another 50 years. Unfortunately, this does not
solve the problem of Metro Manila water demand growing and the Angat being vulnerable to
dry spells and river siltation.

Maynilad Water Services, the water concessionaire for Metro Manila’s western
portion, has long been warning about the serious risks of relying solely on Angat Dam for
NCR’s water supply. Being dependent on a single water source for Metro Manila could lead
to a water shortage by 2020, when Angat cannot meet anymore the growing demands of the
metropolis. A “redundancy” plan should be put in place to ensure a reliable backup to Angat.

Reports that Malacañang has been talking to China, Japan and other possible sources
of development assistance to help finance the multibillion-peso New Centennial Water
Source-Kaliwa Dam Project in Quezon province. The project, which will tap the Kaliwa-
Kanan-Agos River Basin as an alternative water source for Metro Manila, is expected to
generate some 600 million liters of water per day (MLD). The project involves the
construction of a dam at the Kaliwa River (the Laiban Dam), and a smaller one (the Kaliwa
Dam) downstream to optimize water supply for Metro Manila.

Construction of the new dam will be complemented by the rehabilitation of the Wawa
Dam in Montalban, Rizal. The projects would ensure clean, affordable and sustainable water
for Metro Manila and its nearby provinces for the next 25 to 50 years. A three-pronged
program on water security and sustainability for Metro Manila was also unveiled.

The program focuses on three areas: first, interim and long-term water source projects
to approximate at least 4,000 MLD in the next 10, 25 to 50 years; second, disaster
management especially with the possible occurrence of a 7.2 magnitude earthquake and anti-
terrorist/saboteur measures on major water installations and facilities; and, third, sustained
environment program through sustainable watershed management projects.

Water sustainability means there would be enough and available water not only for
the present generation, but also for future generations. The value of dialog and partnership
with the private sectors should also be recognized.

Plans to form a new technical working group that will include representatives from
the MWSS, from the two water concessionaires – Maynilad and Manila Water – and other
entities to draw up a new 10-year development blueprint on new water sources are laid.

The 10-year plan will focus on the Laguna Lake to supply 50 MLD; Putatan (150
MLD); Umiray and Sumag (350 MLD); Kaliwa (600 MLD), Laiban (1,800 MLD) and the
possible reinstatement of Wawa Dam (350 MLD) into an active state after 24 years of
dormancy. The said plan is to be implemented in the next five years and completed within 10
years, which would benefit not only Metro Manila’s consumers, but those in Rizal, Cavite and
Bulacan as well (Reyes, 2017).