The Angat Dam’s water level has been gradually rising after a few days of rain brought on by the southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” which was strengthened by the passage of tropical storm Dodong.
Based on the monitoring of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Monday, July 17, Angat Dam’s water level increased by nearly one meter to 180 meters around 6 a.m.
This is up from 179.06 meters on Sunday, July 16.
Angat Dam in Bulacan (Mark Balmores/Manila Bulletin)
However, its current level is still 0.86 centimeters short of the rule curve elevation of 180.86 meters, and significantly lower than its 212-meter normal-high water level during the rainy season. PAGASA defines rule curve elevation as the minimum reservoir elevation that dam operators must maintain to ensure the availability of water for irrigation, power generation, and domestic supply. The water level of Angat Dam, which supplies 98 percent of Metro Manila’s water requirements, has been gradually decreasing due to lack of significant rains over the watershed area in the past few months. Authorities have emphasized the importance of conserving water in order to avoid a possible water shortage in the coming months as a result of El Niño, a climate phenomenon that causes warmer and drier conditions than usual.
Angat Dam in Bulacan (Mark Balmores/Manila Bulletin)
However, its current level is still 0.86 centimeters short of the rule curve elevation of 180.86 meters, and significantly lower than its 212-meter normal-high water level during the rainy season. PAGASA defines rule curve elevation as the minimum reservoir elevation that dam operators must maintain to ensure the availability of water for irrigation, power generation, and domestic supply. The water level of Angat Dam, which supplies 98 percent of Metro Manila’s water requirements, has been gradually decreasing due to lack of significant rains over the watershed area in the past few months. Authorities have emphasized the importance of conserving water in order to avoid a possible water shortage in the coming months as a result of El Niño, a climate phenomenon that causes warmer and drier conditions than usual.