‘Ursula’ rainfall raises Angat Dam water level

MAJOR WATER SHED The water level at Angat Dam slightly increased on Thursday due to rains dumped by Typhoon “Ursula.” —GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan, Philippines — The water level at Angat Dam in Bulacan province has risen to almost a meter due to rains dumped by Typhoon “Ursula” (international name: Phanfone) in the area.

But the record of 199.72 meters above sea level at 8 a.m. on Thursday was still short of the 212-masl target that would ensure sufficient water supply to Metro Manila residents and Central Luzon farmers.

Thursday’s mark was slightly higher than the 198.90-masl level at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, data from the provincial disaster risk reduction and management office (PDRRMO) showed.

Liz Mungcal, head of the Bulacan PDRRMO, said they expected the dam’s stock to rise due to intermittent light rains spread out over the reservoir.

Continuous rains within three to four days usually increase the dam level by a meter, she said.

The dam’s elevation had risen to more than 10 meters since Nov. 29 when it was at 188.82 masl, which was near the operating norm of 180 masl.

On Dec. 2, the elevation rose to 189.05 masl but it dropped to 188.97 masl at 8 a.m. on Dec. 3, before rising to 189.35 masl at 5 p.m. on the same day.

Rains dumped by Typhoon “Tisoy” (international name: Kammuri) on Dec. 4 increased the dam’s elevation by more than 3 m at 194.14 masl.

Earlier, Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando had asked Bulakenyos to implore divine intervention so that rains would fill the dam reservoir and reach its normal elevation at 210 masl.

The National Water Resources Board usually cuts the water supply to the National Irrigation Authority for the irrigation requirements of farmers in Bulacan and Pampanga when the dam level goes below 180 masl.

More than 90 percent of Metro Manila’s water needs are sourced from Angat Dam while some 25,000 farmers depend on its water for their irrigation.—Carmela Reyes-Estrope