LPA rains boost Angat Dam water level, but still not enough
At A Glance
- As of 8 a.m., the dam's water level rose to 154.33 meters, from 150.85 meters on Wednesday.
- Despite the increase, the water level remained 25.73 meters below the dam's rule curve elevation of 180.06 meters, or the level needed for it to operate normally for domestic water supply, irrigation, and power generation.
Angat Dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan (Santi San Juan/Manila Bulletin file)
Rains brought by a low-pressure area (LPA) raised the water level of Angat Dam in Bulacan by more than three meters on Thursday, July 30, based on the data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
As of 8 a.m., the dam’s water level rose to 154.33 meters, from 150.85 meters on Wednesday.
PAGASA recorded 70.375 millimeters of rainfall over the Angat watershed in the 24-hour monitoring period from 8 a.m. Wednesday to 8 a.m. Thursday.
Despite the increase, the water level remained 25.73 meters below the dam’s rule curve elevation of 180.06 meters, or the level needed for it to operate normally for domestic water supply, irrigation, and power generation.
During a forum last week, PAGASA said Angat Dam needs around 400 millimeters of rainfall to bring its water level to the rule curve.
This is comparable to the amount of rain dumped by Tropical Storm Ondoy within 24 hours.
However, the dam would need around 1,200 millimeters of rainfall to reach its normal high water level of 210 meters.
Angat Dam’s water level was still 55.67 meters below its normal high water level as of 8 a.m. Thursday.
PAGASA has reiterated the importance of bringing Angat Dam to its normal high water level, particularly as the country faces the effects of of a weak-to-moderate El Niño.