‘Angat’s water level to drop by .40 meters daily’

MANILA, Philippines — The water level in Angat Dam may drop by up to .40 meters daily in April as the temperature gets warmer due to El Niño.

Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) division manager Patrick Dizon said the water elevation in the reservoir has been dropping at an average of .17 meters daily since February.

“The 17 centimeters (daily) drop is still low considering that it is not yet the peak of the dry season,” Dizon said.

He noted that the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has yet to declare the onset of the dry season.

“Once we experience hot weather, around 30 centimeters to 40 centimeters will be the daily drop (in Angat Dam’s water level),” Dizon said.

As of 6 a.m. yesterday, the water level in Angat Dam was at 202.78 meters, or .30 meters lower compared to its previous level of 203.08 meters.

It was 7.97 meters below its normal high level of 212 meters, but still 22.78 meters above its minimum operating level.

“In January, February, March and until June, the water level in Angat Dam drops, and then starting July up to December, historically, the water elevation increases even during El Niño,” Dizon said.

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

Dizon assured the public of uninterrupted water supply this month as the National Water Resources Board maintained the allocation of 50 cubic meters per second for Maynilad Water Service Inc. and Manila Water.

“The MWSS continues its call to the public to conserve water as we cannot afford to be complacent despite the La Niña watch issued by PAGASA,” he said.

Aside from Angat Dam, the water levels in the other dams in Luzon have declined.

These are La Mesa Dam in Quezon City, Ambuklao Dam in Benguet, San Roque Dam in Pangasinan, Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija, Magat Dam in Isabela and Caliraya Dam in Laguna.