Angat, Bustos Dam levels back to normal, release water

MANILA, Philippines — Angat Dam has returned to its normal operating level of 180 meters after days of decline, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

“The water level of Angat Dam is back to its minimum operating level of 180 meters or at least 0.98 meters increase in the last 24 hours, so it’s good news,” PAGASA senior weather specialist Rosalie Pagulayan said yesterday in a radio interview.

Maynilad Water Services Inc. suspended its water service interruptions as Angat Dam and Ipo Dam’s water levels increased, aided by the southwest monsoon and Tropical Storm Dodong.

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.

The water level of Ipo Dam in Bulacan improved by 0.80 meters after it reached 100.82 meters compared to its previous level of 100.02 meters, Pagulayan said.

“Ipo Dam has a separate watershed which is six to eight kilometers downstream of Angat Dam, so it has increased by 0.80 meters,” she said.

La Mesa Dam in Quezon City is at 79.28 meters or up by 0.29 meters compared to its previous level of 78.99 meters, Pagulayan said.

“The water level of La Mesa Dam also increased for the past three days. It is near its spilling level of 80.15 meters,” she added.

Pagulayan reminded the public to continue conserving water in preparation for El Niño.

Water levels at other dams in Luzon, except for Binga Dam in Benguet, also improved.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) of Bulacan recorded Angat Dam’s water level at 180.13 meters compared to 179.14 meters the previous day.

Bustos releasing water

Meanwhile, Bustos Dam is still releasing water as of July 17.

The dam’s water level is at 17.20 meters and its Sluice Gates 1 and 2 are raised at one meter each, according to National Irrigation Administration regional director for Central Luzon Josephine Salazar.

The PDRRMO of Bulacan reported that a total of 123 families or 439 individuals were brought to 10 evacuation centers due to rising floodwaters.

Rationing still possible

The improvement in Angat Dam’s water level, however, is expected to last only for a few days.

“We have a crisis in the sense there is a shortage in terms of the supply from the Angat Dam so what will happen is if it does not improve... we have a few more days of water supply, but if the rainfall does not continue, we will go back to rationing,” Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said during a water forum in Quezon City.

“Our measures to conserve should be year-round and our education should be year-round in the way we use our water,” Loyzaga added.