Angat Dam’s water level plunges

MALOLOS CITY — A possible water crisis in some parts of Central Luzon and Metro Manila loomed as the water elevation at the Angat Dam plunged below the critical level of l80 meters yesterday.

It was still unclear whether the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) would now cut the allocation of irrigation water to farms in Bulacan and some areas in Pampanga as they did last year when the giant reservoir’s water content dropped to critical level.

As of 8 a.m. yesterday, the dam’s water level was measured at l79.86 meters, according to the provincial disaster coordinating office in this city.

The dam, situated in the mountainous town of Norzagaray, is a major source of drinking water for Metro Manila, and provides irrigation water to farms in the Central Luzon region.

The drop is expected to continue and no relief is expected until June with the advent of the rainy season.

While farmers are assured of a steady supply of irrigation water up to April l5, the dam’s low water level will most likely affect its power-generating capacity with the inevitable shutdown of its turbines.

The NWRB has a standing order to dam technicians to shut down the turbines once the water level hits the critical height of l80 meters. Such situation would reduce the plant’s power-generating capacity by at least 200 megawatts.

The plant generates 245 megawatts of electricity for the National Transmission Corp.

Rodolfo German, manager of the dam’s hydro-electric plant said the closure of the turbines is unavoidable because they cannot operate the main  power turbines  when the water elevation at the dam is low.

Whether dam authrorities would cut the water allocation for irrigation after April l5 remains unclear.

The Bulacan Provincial Agriculture Office said yesterday that farmers will be required to plant alternative crops such as corn and vegetables once the irrigation allocation is reduced.