Angat Dam violated protocol – water distributors

Angat Dam. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/ARNOLD ALMACEN

MANILA, Philippines – Metro Manila’s water distributors have expressed alarm over the release of water from Angat Dam in Bulacan despite its below normal water levels.

Angat Dam released water for irrigation, which worried Manila Water and Maynilad, Radyo Inquirer 990AM reported on Monday.

They claimed that Angat Dam violated the protocol that water must be released at the normal water level of 180 meters above sea level (masl). Water level at Angat Dam stands at 178.19 masl as of 6a.m.

National Power Corporation informed shortly before the water release on Friday night, the report said.

The dam is scheduled to release 42 cubic meters (cms) per second between August 23-27, and 21 cms between August 28-31.

Maynilad and Manila Water were worried that it may affect the El Nino phenomenon that could probably strike later in the year.

Angat Dam supplies most of Metro Manila’s water needs. Other sources of water by the two water distributors are Ipo Dam and La Mesa Dam.