Angat Dam nears critical level

MANILA, Philippines — The water level of Angat Dam is nearing critical level, dropping further to 182.24 meters or 0.21 meters less compared to its previous 182.45 meters, according to latest monitoring of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

As of 6 a.m. on Sunday, the water level of Angat was only 0.46 meters away from its rule curve elevation or the minimum level of the dam to be able to function effectively.

It is expected to reach critical level in less than two weeks.

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.

On Saturday, the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) implemented a two-cubic meters per second (CMS) cut in the water allocation for Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water amid the threat of the El Niño phenomenon.

NWRB executive director Sevillo David Jr. has said that the implementation of 50 CMS for the two water concessionaires from the previous 52 CMS aims to manage the water from Angat Dam.

David has said that the 50 CMS water allocation for the two water concessionaires and 28.5 CMS for irrigation will be effective for the entire month of July.

“The rains did help and did not reach the watersheds in our mountains,” David said, referring to the thunderstorms experienced in Metro Manila and areas in the country in the past days.

David said that according to the NWRB, the next weeks and months are very crucial to be able to improve the water level of the dams in the country.

The two water concessionaires have yet to announce the impact of the drop in water allocation.

Areas being serviced by Maynilad had experienced eight to 14 hours daily water cutoff before the 52 CMS water allocation took effect on April 15, 2023.

Among those affected by the previous rotating water interruption were Maynilad customers in Manila, Quezon City, Makati, Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon; the cities of Cavite, Bacoor and Imus and the towns of Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario in Cavite.

On the other hand, water levels in four other dams also decreased, including Ambuklao Dam in Benguet which decreased to 748.72 meters or 0.47 meters less compared to its previous level of 749.19 meters; Binga Dam in Benguet, 571.39 meters, 0.25 less than its previous level of 571.64 meters; Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija, 180.70 meters or 0.20 meters less compared to 180.90 meters; and Caliraya Dam in Laguna, 286.65 meters or 0.17 meters less compared to previous level of 286.82 meters.