Angat Dam level rises; water allocation unchanged

MANILA, Philippines — The water elevation of Angat Dam rose by almost two meters above its minimum operating level yesterday, but the water allocation for Metro Manila and nearby provinces remained unchanged.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported that the dam’s water elevation stood at 181.87 meters as of 11 a.m. yesterday, or 1.87 meters above its minimum operating level of 180 meters.

Despite the increase, the water allocation from Angat Dam to the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System remains at 42 cubic meters per second, with an additional standby allocation of two CMS.

Sevillo David Jr., executive director of the National Water Resources Board, told The STAR in a text message that the board decided to extend the 42-CMS allocation to the MWSS until the end of August.

Under normal conditions, Angat Dam allocates 52 CMS of water to the MWSS, David earlier said.

The NWRB reduced the allocation to 42 CMS from Aug. 1 to 15 when Angat Dam’s water level dropped to 155.40 meters, or 4.60 meters below its critical level of 160 meters.

Meanwhile, National Irrigation Administration Central Luzon director Christian Manalo said they may request an irrigation allocation from Angat Dam once its water elevation reaches 185 meters.

Manalo noted that many farmers in the irrigation service areas of Bustos Dam have already planted rice crops following the heavy rains in recent days.