Water in 6 Luzon dams dipping

MANILA, Philippines — Water elevations in six dams in Luzon continue to decrease amid the El Niño phenomenon and dry season, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

PAGASA’s hydro meteorological division said that as of 6 a.m. yesterday, the water level in Angat in Bulacan dipped further to 191.73 meters, or lower by .38 from the previous day’s 192.11 meters.

The figure was 20.27 meters below Angat’s normal high water level of 212, and only 11.73 above its minimum operating level of 180 meters.

Aside from Angat, other dams that logged decreasing water levels were La Mesa in Quezon City, Ipo in Bulacan, Ambuklao and Binga in Benguet, and Pantabangan in Nueva Ecija.

Earlier, Patrick Dizon, department manager at the Metropolitan Water Works and Sewerage System (MWSS), said Angat was expected to reach its minimum operating level of 180 meters by the end of May.

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

The dam’s water level was estimated to decrease by .34 meter daily. Since April 1, the elevation has dropped by 7.07 meters.

The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) will maintain the 50-cubic-meter allocation for concessionaires Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water until April 30.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Carlos David said the DENR and the NWRB would reassess the water level in Angat on April 30.

He said if the elevation reaches below 189 meters, the NWRB would decrease the allocation for the National Capital Region starting May 1.

Aside from Angat, the water level in La Mesa Dam also dropped by 0.01 meter after it reached 75.96 compared to its previous level of 75.97 meters.

Ipo dropped to 99.6 meters, or lower by .05 from 99.71 meters.

Ambuklao in Benguet also decreased to 743.56 from its previous level of 743.89 meters.

Binga suffered the largest decline at .85 meter after it reached 570.15 from 571 meters previously.

Pantabangan in Nueva Ecija recorded a decline of .17 meter. From 176.76, the elevation decreased to 176.59 meters.