Water level in Angat Dam further drops

Angat Dam. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The water level at Angat Dam further declined to 178.95 meters on Tuesday morning.

In an update from Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), the water level at Angat Dam dropped 0.55 meters from 179.5 meters at 6 a.m. on Monday to 178.95 at 6 a.m. on Tuesday.

Pagasa hydrologist Adelaida Duran earlier told Inquirer.net that the water level in the dam dropped 0.49 meters on average in April.

Duran said the dam’s water level could hit 175.5 meters by the end of May if it continues to decline.

But rainfall in May, she said, could help improve the dam’s water level.

READ: Further decline in Angat Dam’s water level feared

Last Sunday, Angat Dam’s water level breached its critical level, dropping to 179.93 meters above sea level below the 180-meter minimum requirement.

The 180-meter line marks the level at which water supply for irrigation could be reduced. Supply for domestic use will be limited when the water level reaches the 160-meter mark.

However, Felix Robles, Water Control chief of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in Bulacan, said the water in Angat Dam could still meet the irrigation requirement for rice crops in Bulacan and Pampanga, and domestic needs of Metro Manila /cbb

READ: Water level at Angat Dam breaches critical mark