La Mesa Dam overflows due to monsoon

MANILA, Philippines — The southwest monsoon or habagat continues to bring rains in Metro Manila, causing La Mesa Dam in Quezon City to reach its spilling level yesterday and threatening low-lying areas along the Tullahan River.

As of 8 a.m. yesterday, the water elevation of La Mesa Dam had reached 80.20 meters or 0.05 meters above its spilling level of 80.15 meters.

Authorities said water from the reservoir may affect areas along the Tullahan River such as Fairview, Forest Hills Subdivision, Quirino Highway, Sta. Quiteria and San Bartolome, all in Quezon City; Barangay Ligon, the North Expressway, La Huerta Subdivision in Valenzuela City, and Malabon.

Residents living in these areas, especially those near the river banks, were advised to be alert for further increases in the water level of the Tullahan River.

At 12:20 a.m., the water level of La Mesa Dam was 79.90 meters. It reached its spilling level of 80.16 meters at 5 a.m. yesterday.

Meanwhile, the water level of Angat Dam dropped to 183.99 meters compared to its previous level of 184.17 meters. It was 26.01 meters below its normal high water level of 2010 meters.

The water elevation of Angat Dam is only 3.99 meters away from its minimum operating level of 180 meters.

The water level of Angat Dam has improved since July 15 amid the rains brought by the southwest monsoon and Typhoon Carina.

Its elevation reached 187.99 meters before it started to go down on Aug. 6.

Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System department manager Patrick Dizon has said at least three to four typhoons are needed before Angat reaches its normal high water level of 210 meters.

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