Luzon dams in no danger of spilling water

Magat Dam. PHOTO FROM EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG

MANILA, Philippines–Water levels in major dams in Luzon are not in danger of spilling since they had already released water ahead of tropical storm “Helen” (international name: Kai-tak).

“Dam operators were able to open gates before the arrival of ‘Helen’ so [water levels] will not reach spilling levels,” Executive Director Benito Ramos of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said in a radio interview.

As of 12 noon, five dams were still releasing water while the Magat dam in Cagayan closed its gate at 5 a.m., according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Angat Dam in Bulacan has continuously opened gates over the past several days to release water it had accumulated at the height of monsoon rains.

It has three gates opening a total of three meters and releasing 440 cubic meters per second of water. Its water level was 213.72 meters, almost four meters above the normal high water level (NHWL) of 210 meters.

NHWL is the level set by dam operators to measure when the water is above the average levels. Dam operators placed several meters allowance between the dam’s NHWL and the actual spilling level.

Ipo dam has four gates opening 3.8 meters and releasing 554 cubic meters per second of water. Its water level was 100.37 meters, almost half a meter below its NHWL of 100.8 meters.

Ambuklao dam has only one gate left open at one meter and releasing 190 cubic meters per second of water. Its water level was 749.12 meters, nearly three meters below its NHWL of 752 meters.

Binga dam has three gates opening 2.5 meters and releasing 365 cubic meters per second of water. Its water level was 572.67 meters, more than two meters below its NHWL of 575 meters.

San Roque dam, which receives the water being released by Ambuklao and Binga dams, has two gates opening 1.5 meters and releasing 471 cubic meters per second of water. Its water level was 280.53 meters, at least half a meter above its NHWL of 280 meters.

Magat dam has closed its one open gate early Wednesday. Its water level was 189.66 meters, less than half a meter below its NHWL of 190 meters.