Angat Dam water level keeps dipping

MANILA, Philippines — Water level in Angat Dam continues to drop as it reached 194.45 meters yesterday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

As of 6 a.m. yesterday, the dam’s water level was .35 meter lower from 194.80 meters on Saturday.

The figure was 17.55 meters below the dam’s normal high water level of 212 meters.

The decline in Angat’s   water elevation in the past two weeks have averaged at .31 meter per day, according to PAGASA’s hydrometeorological division.

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

Environment Undersecretary Carlos David has assured Metro Manila residents of uninterrupted water supply until April 30.

A plan to decrease the water allocation starting tomorrow will not push through, David said.

He said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and its attached agency, the National Water Resources Board (NWRB), have agreed to maintain the 50 cubic meters per second (cms) allocation for Metro Manila concessionaires Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water until April 30.

David said the NWRB reviews the water elevation in Angat every 15 days.

The DENR and the NWRB will reassess the water level on April 30, he said.

If the water level falls below 189 meters, the decrease in the water allocation for the National Capital Region will be implemented starting May 1, David said.

Patrick Dizon, department manager at the Metropolitan WaterWorks and Sewerage System, said strategies implemented like reducing water pressure to preserve Angat’s elevation helped stopped the plan to decrease the allocation for Metro Manila.

Maynilad corporate communications chief Jennifer Rufo said the water concessionaire has been working with stakeholders in monitoring Angat’s water level and taking measures to preserve it.

Meanwhile, the water level in Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija yesterday dropped to 173.89 meters, or .13 meter lower than the previous day’s 174.02.

The figure was 47.11 meters lower than Pantabangan’s normal high water level of 221, and below its low level of 177 meters.