La Mesa, Ipo dams spill water

MANILA, Philippines—Water was spilling at La Mesa and Ipo dams Friday as the continuous rains had elevated water levels at the two facilities, a spokesman for Manila Water Company Inc. said.

Jeric T. Sevilla, Manila Water Corporate Communications chief, said in a phone interview that water had been spilling out of the La Mesa Dam in Quezon City since noon Friday. La Mesa is a spill dam akin to a giant infinity pool.

At Ipo Dam, the water level was at 100.2 meters or slightly below the spill level of 101 meters. However, three radial gates have been opened at 1 meter each to ease the water level to 100 meters, at which point the floodgates will be closed again, Sevilla said.

He said this was normally done to protect the “structural integrity” of the dam.

Angat Dam, which supplies water to Metro Manila for domestic use is still at 177 meters. The spilling level at Angat Dam is 210 meters.