Two major dams in Luzon have reached their lowest water levels since 2018, a hydrologist of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Wednesday, March 20.

As of 6 a.m., PAGASA’s monitoring showed that the water level in San Roque Dam was 236.38 meters, while it was 179.59 meters in Pantabangan Dam.

The normal high water levels at the San Roque Dam in Pangasinan and Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija are 280 meters and 221 meters, respectively.

PAGASA hydrologist Richard Orendain said these are the lowest elevations of the San Roque and Pantabangan dams for the past seven years, based on the data from 2018 to 2024.

He attributed the absence of rainwater in the watershed areas to the decreasing water levels.

However, Orendain said the water levels in the two dams may recover by May, coinciding with the onset of the southwest monsoon season, also known as “habagat.”

Angat Dam

Meanwhile, Orendain said the water level in Angat Dam in Bulacan is still within the “normal” elevation.

This indicates that the water level is still considered “good” and has not reached its lowest level yet, unlike the San Roque and Pantabangan dams.

As of 6 a.m., Angat Dam’s water level was 200.99 meters, or 11.01 meters below its normal high of 212 meters.

Based on PAGASA’s assessment, Orendain said that by the end of May, Angat Dam’s water level may reach 182.73 meters, which is just slightly above its “low-water” or minimum operating level of 180 meters.

El Niño, which is causing below-normal rainfall in many parts of the country, is expected to persist until May.

PAGASA’s historical data shows that Angat Dam, which is the major water source for Metro Manila, typically recovers by mid-July, during the typhoon season.