CONCESSIONAIRE Maynilad has asked government approval to tap more water from Laguna Lake, to 300 million liters from 100 million, saying it needs the increase to avoid a shortage of potable water.

Maynilad serves Metro Manila?s west zone, where it says only 71 percent or 703,519 customers are being supplied with potable water.

?Water shortage is now being felt in the area,? the company said in a statement.

The company is also negotiating to tap water from the lake for customers in Muntinlupa, Para?aque, Las Pi?as and Bacoor, but the Laguna Lake Development Authority is still studying how much to charge for the extra supply.

Laguna Lake, the Philippines? biggest, spills 150 cubic meters per second into Manila Bay through the Pasig River except from March to May, when the lake?s water level is lower than that of the bay.

A study made by the Dutch government five years ago says the lake is the most viable source of water for Metro Manila?s west zone because of its central location.

?The study revealed that Angat Dam eventually will no longer meet the demands of the rapidly growing population of Metro Manila,? said Eduardo Manda, the Lake Authority?s general manager.

But he said people must stop polluting the lake if they were to secure their future water supply from it.

?Getting potable water from the lake is very near to becoming a reality. The more we pollute the lake, the more we will spend to clean it for us to have drinkable water,? Manda said. Gigi David