Napocor: Angat water level up but still critical

MALOLOS CITY, Philippines – Thanks to heavy rainfall dumped by Typhoon Glenda, the water elevation of Angat Dam – which supplies the water needs of Metro Manila – climbed by 3.84 meters yesterday.

But this was not enough, and the National Power Corp. (Napocor) will still proceed with another round of cloud seeding, as the dam’s water level is still below 180 meters, with which it can supply irrigation.

Napocor records show that Angat Dam’s water elevation climbed to 166.58 meters above sea level (masl) at 6 a.m. yesterday, from 162.74 masl at 6 a.m. the previous day.

Despite the water rise, Napocor president Gladys Sta. Rita said the cloud seeding planned before Glenda pummeled Central Luzon would proceed, as the dam’s water level is still way below the 210-meter normal level.

The dam’s water elevation started dropping last December due to lack of rainfall, and Sta. Rita said there is a need to prepare for the El Niño phenomenon.

Meanwhile, other major dams in Luzon, except for San Roque Dam in Pangasinan, also experienced slight increases in their water levels. 

Data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration show that the water elevation of Ambuklao Dam climbed to 741.20 masl yesterday from 740.22 masl the previous day.

Binga Dam’s water level was up to 568.49 masl from 567.70 masl; Pantabangan Dam, 177.44 masl from 176.81 masl; and Magat Dam, 160.95 masl from 160.48 masl.

San Roque Dam’s water level though dropped to 233.84 masl yesterday from 234.40 masl the previous day.