Angat Dam level continues to drop

Angat Dam. FILE PHOTO

THE water level in Angat Dam, the main source of potable water for Metro Manila and irrigation for nearby provinces, continues to drop because of the dry and hot weather.

As of 6 a.m. Monday, the level at the reservoir was 191.29 meters, or 20.71 meters lower than the normal high water level (NHWL), the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), which supervises the dam, reported.

Pagasa Administrator Nathaniel Servando said the agency has been closely monitoring the level in Angat and other major dams in Luzon for the last two months.

“We observe, based on data we have, that their water level especially at Angat Dam continues to drop obviously due to the absence of rainfall in the basin during the past weeks,” Servando said.

Despite the declining Angat dam level, he ruled out water rationing and even power outages, especially in the provinces.

He said it was the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) that decides if water rationing will be carried out, particularly in Metro Manila.

“While we (Pagasa) monitor the level of dams, especially Angat, complete information as to allocation, sufficiency in the coming weeks amid the impacts of the El Niño phenomenon as well as dry and warmer season, the NWRB is in better position and authority to provide complete information on the real situation,” he said.

The board “has protocols to follow, especially if a dam, particularly Angat Dam, would reach the minimum or critical level,” Servando added.

He predicted the below-average rainfall to continue until the middle of May.

Servando reminded the public to continue conserving water.