MALOLOS, Philippines — Rain spawned by Super Typhoon Odette and the northeast monsoon raised the water elevation in Angat Dam by more than four meters in the last four days.
The Bulacan disaster risk reduction and management office said the dam’s water level increased to 199.22 meters yesterday from 194.81 meters on Friday morning, or a difference of 4.41 meters.
Angat’s water level yesterday was 12.78 meters below its normal high water level of 212 meters, although it is still 19.22 meters above its minimum operating level of 180 meters.
Angat Dam is the primary source of drinking water for Metro Manila households, which usually experience rationing if the dam’s water level falls below the 180-meter mark, especially during summer.
“We are assessing the current situation in the Angat Dam as well as the climate outlook of the state weather bureau for this month as well as in January and February next year,” said Sevillo David Jr., executive director of the National Water Resources Board.
David gave the statement in response to a question about the possibility of diverting Bulacan’s irrigation supply from Angat to Metro Manila.