Water level drops anew in Angat, 4 other dams

MANILA, Philippines — The water levels of Angat and four other dams started to drop again after days of improvement, according to latest monitoring of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

PAGASA said that as of 6 a.m. yesterday, the water level of Angat Dam dropped by 22 centimeters after it recorded 180.74 meters compared to its previous level of 180.96 meters.

The current water level of Angat Dam is still within its minimum operating level of 180 meters.

Sevillo David Jr., executive director of the National Water Resources Board, said that when the water elevation of Angat Dam falls below the 180-meter level, its water allocation will solely be dedicated to the potable water needs of Metro Manila residents.

Maynilad has announced the indefinite suspension of water interruption with the improvement in the levels of Angat Dam and Ipo Dam following rains brought by Tropical Storm Dodong and the southwest monsoon.

Angat Dam supplies more than 90 percent of Metro Manila’s potable water needs and provides for the irrigation needs of 25,000 hectares of farmlands in Bulacan and Pampanga.

PAGASA said aside from Angat Dam, the water level of Ipo Dam in Bulacan also dropped by 0.18 meters after it recorded 99.62 meters compared to its previous level of 99.80 meters; La Mesa Dam in Quezon City dropped by 0.02 meters after it reached 79.15 meters compared to 79.16 meters; Ambuklao Dam in Benguet decreased by 0.90 meters after it reached 740.49 meters compared to its previous level of 741.39 meters and Caliraya Dam in Laguna declined by 0.33 meters after it reached 286.05 meters compared to its previous level of 286.38 meters.

For his part, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System division manager engineer Patrick Dizon said based on the forecast of PAGASA, the water levels of Angat and other dams will improve until September with the expected rains during these months.

“We expect rains in the watersheds to help recharge the dams,” Dizon added.

New dam

A new dam for irrigation purposes was approved to be built at the Bayabas River System in Doña Remedios Trinidad town, and is expected to prolong Angat Dam’s water supply to Metro Manila.

The National Irrigation Administration Central Luzon office recently informed Bulacan officials that detailed engineering design, plans and drawings of the dam have been approved and are ready for bidding, Ma. Gloria Carillo, provincial agriculturist of Bulacan, told The STAR.

Upon completion, Bayabas Dam will lessen the irrigation water allocation coming from Angat Dam to ricelands in Bulacan and parts of Pampanga during the summer months, thus providing Metro Manila with additional volume for its potable water requirements. — Ramon Lazaro