Rains continue to fill Angat Dam

MALOLOS, Philippines — Rains have continued to raise the water level in Angat Dam.

Records from the Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office showed that the water level in the dam was at 214.07 meters yesterday compared to 213.68 meters the other day.

The dam‘s normal high water level is 212 meters.

Water release from the damwas decreased at 158 cubic meters per second compared to 267 cms in the previous day.

Angat Dam provides more than 90 percent of the potable water needs of Metro Manila residents, who are facing a possible adverse effect of the El Niño phenomenon in the first quarter of 2024.

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System had requested the National Water Resources Board to maintain the water level in the dam to 214 meters in preparation for El Niño.

Francisco Clara, chief of the water control and coordinating unit of Bustos Dam, said water release from Angat Dam has resulted in Ipo Dam‘s discharge of 142.80 cms of water.

Bustos Dam, on the other hand, is releasing 38 cms of water on its downstream river system, with 10 cms diverted to its north zone irrigation service area.

Spilling operations in Angat Dam have been ongoing since the water level reached its normal high of 212 meters early this month.

Officials said water release is meant to protect the structural integrity of the dam.