‘Habagat’ rains cause Angat Dam water level to rise by nearly 4 meters


Angat Dam.jpg
Angat Dam (Manila Bulletin file photo)

Angat Dam in Bulacan saw its water level increase by almost four meters in 24 hours, following intense rainfall from the southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” enhanced by typhoon “Carina” (international name: Gaemi).

Based on the dam monitoring of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the water level at Angat Dam rose to 182.20 meters as of 8 a.m. on Thursday, July 25, a significant increase from 178.41 meters recorded at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, July 24.

This exceeds its minimum operating level of 180 meters, but the dam may still require 27.8 meters to reach its normal high water level of 210 meters.

PAGASA said that historically, Angat Dam undergoes gradual recovery by mid-July, coinciding with the peak of the southwest monsoon and tropical cyclone season, and continues until the last quarter of the year, during the northeast monsoon, or “amihan” season.

Other dams monitored by PAGASA also reported increases in their water levels over the past 10 hours: La Mesa Dam reached its spilling level of 80.15 meters; Ambuklao Dam’s water level rose from 746.10 meters to 749.47 meters; Binga Dam increased from 570.55 meters to 573.88 meters; San Roque Dam went up from 228.10 meters to 230.29 meters; Pantabangan Dam rose slightly from 180.67 meters to 181.23 meters; and Magat Dam saw a slight change from 286.84 meters to 286.78 meters.

Meanwhile, Ipo Dam continues to release water, with its level recorded at 101.13 meters, just slightly above its normal high water level of 101 meters.