Napocor completes repair of Angat rain gauge stations

MANILA, Philippines - The National Power Corp. (Napocor) has completed the repairs of three remote rain gauge stations at the Angat Watershed Reservation in Bulacan, the state-run power company said yesterday.

The move is part of Napocor’s efforts to prepare for the rainy season as water elevation in Angat Dam remains low.

Napocor, through its Dams Management Department’s Flood Forecasting and Warning System Division (FFWSD), has repaired the Matulid, Maputi and Talaguio rain gauge stations, Napocor president Ma. Gladys Cruz-Sta. Rita said.

“These rain gauges measure rainfall intensity in the area which translates to water inflow and help us manage water utilization in Angat Dam. Data collected from these rain gauges are very important especially during rainy season because it supplies the primary inputs in forecasting inflow to the reservoir,” she said.

She said that with the assistance of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippine’s (NGCP), the country’s power grid operator, Napocor personnel were able to expedite the repair of the rain gauges located distantly from each other and which are almost not accessible by land.

The repair works are part of Napocor’s regular maintenance of the facility. These include replacing of batteries, checking of wires and cleaning of rain gauges and solar panels.

Based on Napocor data, Angat Dam’s elevation is at 183.62 meters above sea level (masl) as of yesterday.

“There has been no decrease in water elevation since yesterday. In fact, the water level increased by 3 cm on Tuesday, April 29 because of moderate rain that poured over the watershed on Monday,” Napocor said in its advisory.

However, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services (Pagasa), the country is still in dry season even with the isolated rain showers in the afternoon and evening.

“The infrequent rains we experience may be temporary and so we still have to do interventions in addressing the decreased water level of Angat dam,” Sta. Rita said.

The Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) of the Department of Agriculture will resume its cloud seeding operations within two weeks after its suspension following the incident in Magat Dam in Nueva Vizcaya last week when its chopper involved in a similar operation crashed, killing all four people onboard.