Water level in Angat Dam may breach its ‘record-low’ this week – NWRB

MANILA, Philippines — The water level in Angat Dam is likely to breach its “record-low” before the end of this week if rain won’t come soon to fill it, the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) said Monday.

NWRB Executive Director Sevillo David said Angat Dam reached its lowest water level in July 2010 at 157.57 meters.

“‘Yun ang record-low 157.57 meters noong July 2010. Sa tingin natin, kung hindi magbabago ang sitwasyon at tuloy-tuloy ang pagbaba, at walang pag-ulan na darating sa nalalapit na mga araw, sa tingin po natin ay bago magtapos ang linggong ito, baka malampasan ang record-low,” Sevillo said in an interview over radio station DZMM.

Despite the heavy rainfall that hit parts of Luzon on Sunday night, the water level in Angat Dam still declined from 159.43 meters on Sunday morning to 159.09 meters on Monday morning. Angat Dam’s critical level is 160 meters.

The continuing decline in Angat Dam’s water has resulted in rotational water interruptions in Metro Manila and provinces nearby after NWRB reduced the water it allots to the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), which then allocate supply to Manila Water and Maynilad.

READ: Angat water for Metro Manila cut further; reduction till June 30

The water level in several other dams in the country also declined: San Roque Dam (-0.41 meters), Pantabangan Dam (-0.18 meters), and Magat Dam (-0.18 meters), according to the state weather bureau, amid the prevailing weak El Niño in the country.

Asked if further allocation reductions would be enforced if the water level in Angat Dam continues to dip, Sevillo said they are still looking at its possibility.

“Sa ngayon, itong buwan ng June, sabi natin sa tingin natin hindi natin ibababa. Pero tinitingnan natin ‘yang mga development ng panahon at level ng dam at titingnan natin sa mga susunod na araw hanggang bago matapos ang buwan ng Hunyo kung walang pagbabago, titingnan natin kung magkakaroon ng  karagdagang kabawasan kung hindi magbabago ang sitwasyon,” Sevilla said.

READ: Angat Dam water level dips further below critical mark

(Editor: Katherine G. Adraneda)