Water woes: Public urged to avoid inflatable pools, use recycled water to flush toilets

The Department of the Interior and Local Government is urging the public to avoid using inflatable or portable swimming pools as the water level at Angat Dam continues to drop below normal.

“Sana hangga't maaari iwas-iwasan natin. Kung hindi talaga natin maiwasan ito, at the very least 'yung tubig nito i-recycle, ipandilig,” DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview.

As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, the water level of Angat Dam is at 184.78, about 0.40 m lower than 185.18 m level on May 7 and way below its 212 m normal high water level. 

Environment Undersecretary Carlos Primo David earlier said the lower Angat Dam water level means a likely reduction of water allocation in Metro Manila.

“Most likely we will reduce (the allocation) by 1 cms, magiging 49. Sapat pa rin ‘yan, konting tipid lang at wala pa ring interruption in the next weeks to come. The only best solution is to reduce our water consumption. Bawasan unti-unti para ‘yung water level (ng Angat Dam) ay mas mabagal ding bumaba,” he said in a separate interview.

The DILG has issued a memo to governors, mayors and barangay officials on DENR’s water conservation management measures, which include checking for water leaks and to ensure that government offices have separate water meters.

“By 7 p.m. lahat ng empleyado ay dapat nakaalis na,” Abalos said. 

Spot inspections will be conducted to check if government offices are compliant, he said. 

At the barangay level, he said households and condos should limit water consumption to 180 liters per day. He urged the public to use recycled water to flush toilets.