Water in Angat rises; Bustos Dam spills

MALOLOS, Philippines — The water level in Angat Dam has risen to more than a meter amid heavy rains spawned by the southwest monsoon.

Meanwhile, Bustos Dam breached its spilling level yesterday.

Monitoring by the Bulacan provincial disaster risk reduction office showed that as of 8 a.m. yesterday, the water level in Angat Dam was at 167.22 meters compared to 166.09 meters on Friday.

Angat’s critical mark is 160 meters while its minimum operating level is at 180 meters. The normal high during rainy season is 212 meters.

The water level in Bustos Dam is 17 centimeters above its spilling level of 17.34 meters.

The water elevation in Ipo Dam is only a centimeter below it spilling level of 101 meters.

Felix Robles, head of the water control and coordinating unit of Bustos Dam, told The STAR that water spills at around 2.54 cubic meters per second from the dam’s rubber gate. He said there is no need to open the sluice gates.

Angat Dam serves as the primary source of water of Metro Manila residents.

Ipo Dam serves as the water reservoir of the two water concessionaires for Metro Manila residents while Bustos controls the release of water for irrigation in Bulacan and parts of Pampanga.