Angat Dam. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The water level in Angat Dam has continued to dip below critical level, a state hydrologist said Tuesday.
Hydrologist Elmer Caringal of the hydrometeorology division of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) told INQUIRER.net that the water level in the reservoir hit 179 meters as of 6:00 a.m. Tuesday.
Caringal said the Angat Dam stopped supplying water for irrigation Monday afternoon as the water level continued to dip below critical level which is at 180 meters.
He said the dam stopped irrigating farms in Bulacan to prioritize the supply of “domestic water” in Metro Manila.
He added that the water level in Angat dam is expected to drop even further in the coming days due to the onset of the El Niño phenomenon.
He, however, said there is enough water supply at the La Mesa Dam in Quezon City and the Ipo dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan to supply water to Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
He said Pagasa is expecting heavy rains by mid-June which would normalize the water level at the dam.
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