Angat Dam. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – The water level at Angat Dam, which supplies most of Metro Manila’s water needs, returned to the normal operating level of 180 meters above sea level after hovering close to the critical level in the past three months.
The reservoir’s level stood at 181.6 meters on early Sunday, rising by 1.3 meters compared to the previous day’s level of 180.3 meters, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
Since May, the water level in Angat has steadily declined due to the lack of rains, coming close to breaching the critical 160-meter level at which even drinking water supply is threatened.
Under government protocol, the reservoir’s operators should stop releasing water for irrigation once the water level falls below 180 meters.
Water concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water recently went public to protest the continued release of water to irrigate farmlands in Bulacan and Pampanga when Angat Dam was still below the optimum 180-meter normal operating level.
The National Irrigation Administration, however, brushed off the two firms’ warning of an early water crisis, claiming there was enough supply to save P1.25 billion worth of palay.
Rains brought about by successive low pressure areas during the past couple of weeks have replenished Angat Dam, which also powers a hydro-electric power plant.
The reservoir is however still below its 210-meter normal high water level.
Meanwhile, Pagasa has forecast light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms over Eastern Visayas and the entire Mindanao due to a low pressure area located about 830 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao Del Sur.
The rest of the country including Metro Manila could expect isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening, Pagasa said.
The low pressure area west of Batangas that affected Palawan and Western Visayas during the weekend had dispersed by Sunday afternoon.
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