Water in Angat Dam rising

Angat Dam. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / ARNOLD ALMACEN

MANILA, Philippines–The water level at Angat Dam, which supplies most of Metro Manila’s water, continued to rise above the normal operating level of 180 meters after hovering close to the critical level the past three months.

The water level stood at 181.6 meters early Sunday, rising by 1.3 meters from the previous day’s 180.3 meters, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Since May, the water level at Angat had steadily declined due to the lack of rain, coming close to breaching the critical 160-meter level at which even the drinking water supply is threatened.

Rain brought by successive low pressure areas the past weeks replenished Angat, which also powers a hydroelectric power plant.

The reservoir, however, is still below its 210-meter normal high water level.