More typhoons needed for Angat to reach high water level

MANILA, Philippines — At least three to four typhoons are needed for Angat Dam to finally reach the normal high water level despite the intense rains brought by the southwest monsoon that was enhanced by Typhoon Carina, according to the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS).

The water level of Angat Dam is expected to further go up after it reached 182.8 meters or 2.8 meters above its minimum operating level of 180 meters, MWSS department manager Patrick Dizon said.

“Since the watersheds are already saturated, we expect its elevation to further increase in the next few days.  We still need at least three to four typhoons before the dam reaches its normal high water level (of 210 meters),” Dizon told The STAR.

As of 8 a.m. yesterday, the water level of Angat Dam increased by 4.39 meters compared to its previous level of 178.41 meters. It was still 27.20 meters below its normal high water level.

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.

Meanwhile, one gate of Ipo Dam in Bulacan remains open at 0.3 meters after it reached its spilling level of 101.10 meters.

Ambuklao Dam in Benguet reached 749.47 meters or 4.62 meters more compared to its previous level of 744.85 meters; Binga Dam in Benguet reached 573.68 meters or 1.93 meters more compared to its previous level of 571.75 meters; San Roque Dam in Pangasinan, 230.29 meters or 2.79 meters more compared to its previous level of 227.50 meters.

Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija reached 181.23 meters or 0.66 meters more compared to its previous level of 180.57 meters; Magat Dam in Isabela reached 176.33 meters or 1.43 meters more compared to its previous level of 174.90 meters.

The water level of Caliraya Dam in Laguna dropped to 286.78 meters or 0.31 less compared to its previous level of 287.09 meters.

Meanwhile, data provided by the National Irrigation Administration showed that as of 2 p.m. yesterday, the water elevation of Bustos Dam has gone down to 16.62 meters, which is below its spilling level of 17.35 meters.

Bustos Dam has reduced the volume of water it was releasing yesterday to 158 cubic meter per second from 1,120 cms on Wednesday.

It has also inflated its two rubber gates that were deflated and has currently raised its three sluice gates by three meters each in spilling its excess water.

The reduced water spillage of Bustos and Ipo Dams is expected to ease the flooding problems in the low-lying areas in the towns of San Rafael, Baliwag, Plaridel, Pulilan, Calumpit, Hagonoy and Paombong.  – Ramon Efren Lazaro