Angat Dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan. (INQUIRER file photo)
MANILA, Philippines — The state weather bureau on Friday reported water elevation in Angat Dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan has risen for a little bit in a span of four hours.
But data also showed it remained below the ‘normal high’ water level.
In a phone interview, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) hydrologist Aileen Abelardo told INQUIRER.net the dam’s water level rose by seven centimeters from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Friday.
“178.02 [meters] is the 6 a.m. elevation of Angat,” said Abelardo in Filipino.
Asked what the water elevation of Angat dam was as of 11 a.m., she answered, “178.09.”
Abelardo said this increase may be attributed to the rain caused by the combined effects of Tropical Depression Dodong and the southwest monsoon, locally called “habagat.”
Despite this, data showed the current 178.09-meter elevation of Angat dam is still below its “minimum operating” level of 180 meters and “normal high” water level of 210 meters.
Pagasa hydrologist Richard Orendain said this development is “a huge help” as it slowed down the decrease of Angat’s water level.
“For Angat Dam, ang forecast rainfall natin ay umaabot ng 44 millimeters ngayong araw. Ine-expect pa rin natin na tataas pa rin ang [tubig] sa Angat Dam for now, dahil yung ulan noong mga nakaraang araw ay papunta pa lang sa reservoir,” he explained.
(For Angat Dam, our forecast rainfall is 44 millimeters today. We still expect that water will still rise in Angat Dam for now, because rainwater in the past days is just heading to the reservoir.)
“Ang travel time [nito] ay 18 to 24 hours. Inaasahan pa rin natin na tataas [ang tubig],” said Orendain.
(Its travel time is 18 to 24 hours. We still expect the water level to rise.)
Orendain made these forecasts in a press conference.
In the same event, Pagasa’s Hydro-Meteorology Division chief Roy Badilla backed Orendain’s forecast.
But he also stressed Angat dam’s water level may still drop.
“We are expecting na tataas pa ang water level sa Angat pero hindi naman ito gaanong kalaki. Kahapon at noong nakaraang araw ay medyo may kalakasan ang pag-ulan and yet bumaba ang ating water level,” he monitored.
(We are expecting that the water level in Angat will rise, but it will not be that big. Yesterday and the day before, it rained quite heavily and yet our water level dropped.)
“Kung titignan natin base doon sa forecast rainfall natin na hindi naman kalakasan sa ngayon at bukas, ay medyo bababa [pa rin] ang water level ng Angat,” Badilla predicted.
(If we look based on our forecast rainfall, it is not strong today and tomorrow. Hence, water level in Angat will still go down a bit.)
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