Cloud seeding eyed for Angat Dam

MANILA, Philippines - The National Power Corp. (Napocor) is planning to conduct cloud seeding operations over Angat Dam to prevent possible water shortage in Metro Manila in the weeks to come, an official said yesterday.

Engineer Rodolfo German made the disclosure as the dam’s water level dropped to 187.33 meters above sea level at 6 a.m. yesterday, only seven meters above the critical 180 masl.

German is the general manager of the Napocor’s Angat River Hydro Electric Power Plant, which manages the Angat Dam and its 53,000-hectare watershed. The dam supplies 97 percent of Metro Manila’s potable water needs.

He said that the cloud seeding will be conducted in coordination with the Department of Agriculture. However, DA sources, especially from the Bureau of Soils and Water Management , said they still have to receive a request for the operations.

German explained that receding water levels at the dam’s reservoir is due to lack of rainfall since December and the continued use of water by Metro Manila households.