Angat Dam further dips to 195 meters, but water board assures there’s still sufficient supply

The spillway of Angat Dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan. This photo was taken during a dry spell in
June 2019. NWRB Executive Director Sevillo David Jr. confirms on Monday, February 28, 2022, that the water level in Angat Dam was at 196.28 meters — at least 15.72 meters below its normal high water level of 212 meters. Angat Dam is the main source of water supply in Metro Manila. (File photo by GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Angat Dam’s water level further dipped to 195 meters, but the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) assured on Tuesday that there is still enough water supply in the country for the coming dry months.

NWRB Executive Director Dr. Sevillo David Jr. said during the Laging Handa public briefing that this level is lower compared to previous years for the same period when it reached 200 meters.

NWRB, along with other agencies, manages Angat Dam, which supplies about 90 percent of the water requirement of Metro Manila and other provinces adjacent provinces.

“Sa parte po ng pamahalaan po natin ay ang layunin po natin magkaroon po tayo ng sapat na supply ngayong panahon ng tag-init,” David said

(On the part of the government, our goal is to have enough water supply this coming summer.)

Still, David assured that the water supply in the country during the summer season would be sufficient.

“Sa ngayon po ay masasabi po natin may sapat po tayong supply para sa panahon po ng tag-init po,” he added.

(As of now, we can say that we have enough water supply for summer.)

The minimum operating water level of Angat Dam is 180 meters, below which the NWRB would already have to cut back on domestic water supply.

The NWRB attributed  attributed the low water level to the lack of rains.

To avert water service interruptions, David encouraged the public to conserve water.

“Ang amin lang ho sana’y mas maganda pong magtipid ho tayo ng tubig at gamitin ng tama,” he advised.

(For us, it would be better if we save water and use it correctly.)

“‘Wag aksayahin at i-recycle po kung may mga pagkakataon at sa ganitong punto po ay ito pong collectively po ay mama-manage po natin ang kasalukuyang sitwasyon po na medyo mababa o limitadong supply po sa mga pinagkukunan po natin ng tubig kagaya po ng Angat Dam,” continued David.

(Don’t waste it and recycle it when you can so that we can collectively manage our current situation wherein the water supply is low or limited in our water sources like Angat Dam.)

EDV