Six of nine Luzon dams experience increased water levels

MANILA, Philippines — Six out of nine dams in Luzon recorded an increase in water level on Wednesday due to the combined effects of recent tropical cyclones that entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this month, the state weather bureau said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported in a climate forum that among the six dams, San Roque in Pangasinan logged the highest increase in water level at 0.33 meters as of 8 a.m. on Wednesday, bringing the dam’s water level to 273.08 meters

According to Pagasa senior weather specialist Rosalie Pagulayan, the water released from both Ambuklao and Binga Dams due to spilling elevations flow downstream to San Roque Dam, as these are part of a cascading dam system.

Pagasa recorded an increase in the water level of six dams in Luzon as of 8 a.m. on Wednesday, September 25, 2024. (Photo from Pagasa)

All three dams are built in sequence along the Agno River in Northern Luzon.

“‘Yung pagtaas po ng elevation ng San Roque, it’s a combined effect ng pag-ulan and at the same time, ito pong releases ng flood water from Ambuklao and Binga,” Pagulayan added.

(The increase in the elevation of San Roque is a combined effect of rainfall and the release of flood water from Ambuklao and Binga.)

Aside from San Roque, the water levels of the following dams also rose over the past 24 hours:

• La Mesa (from 79.44 to 79.57 m)
• Ambuklao (from 751.31 to 751.58 m)
• Binga (from 574.40 to 574.48 m)
• Pantabangan (from 200.53 to 200.79 m)
• Magat (from 186.12 to 186.30 m)

Meanwhile, the water levels of the two remaining dams decreased: Angat fell from 195.55 to 195.44 meters, and Caliraya dropped from 287.02 to 286.88 meters.

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Ipo Dam’s water level stayed at 100.31 m within the past 24 hours, below its normal high water level at 101.10 m.

The state weather agency expects an increase in the water levels of the Angat, San Roque, Pantabangan, and Magat dams by October 31 based on the forecast basin rainfall from Pagasa’s Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section – Climatology and Agrometeorology Division (CLIMPS-CAD).

READ: La Mesa Dam spills more water as rains keep level above limit