The government is eyeing additional water sources to ease a supply shortage in Metro Manila, an official of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) said Tuesday.

Manila Water, which services over 6 million people in the capital's east zone, has cut supply in several areas as the water level in La Mesa Dam, its source, slid due to lack of rain and increasing demand.

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Maynilad, the water concessionaire in the western zone, has agreed to share with Manila Water some 50 million liters per day, a quarter of the latter's 200-million liter daily consumer demand, said MWSS administrator Reynaldo Velasco.

Velasco said he has also asked the National Water Resources Board to activate deep wells, which can supply another 100 million liters for Manila Water.

Meanwhile, the firm's water treatment plant in Cardona, Rizal will be able to deliver 50 million liters by the end of March, added Velasco.

LONG-TERM PLAN

The government, he said, is also "continuously" looking for other water sources aside from Angat Dam, whose water supply flows into La Mesa.

The Kaliwa Dam to be built in Quezon province has been in the pipeline for decades and is now in the final stage of engineering design, said Velasco.

The design could be completed in April or May, approved the next month, and constructed by 2023, he said.

The dam is projected to hold 600 million liters of water, he said.