MANILA, Philippines – Metro Manila and its neighboring provinces have been experiencing heavy downpour in recent days.
Still, it didn’t help to increase water level in Angat Dam, the main source of domestic water supply in Metro Manila.
Angat’s water level was at 169.79 meters on Wednesday (May 29).
But as of 6:00 a.m. on Thursday (May 30), its water reserve dropped further to 169.63 meters which is 10 meters short of the required minimum operating level of 180 meters.
According to the state weather bureau PAGASA, the said measurement is the lowest level for the month of May as compared with records in the past 10 years.
The cause, PAGASA said, is mainly due to the effects of persistent El Niño phenomenon.
In July 2010, Angat’s water level hit the lowest mark at 157.56 meters, according to PAGASA Weather Specialist Richard Orendain.
Meanwhile, National Water Resources Board Executive Director Sevillo David said they will reduce water allocation in Metro Manila to 46 cubic meters per second (cms) in June from the current 48 cms.
He added that irrigation may also suffer a bit unless Angat Dam’s water level rise up back to its minimum operating level of 180 meters.
“Sa ngayon po baka ma delay if hindi maka recover ng maayos ang level ng dam above 180 meters, (There might be delays if the dam’s level will not recover to above 180 meters),” David said.
Similar condition is observed at La Mesa Dam where water level remains low and still unable to supply for Metro Manila’s consumption.
“Ang tubig sa La Mesa Dam hindi parin natin mapapakinabangan sa ngayon dahil hindi pa siya nakakarating sa lebel ng 69 (meters) and above, (Water level in La Mesa Dam cannot yet supply unless it reaches the level of 69 meters and above,)” Orendain explained.
According to the Bureau of Soil and Water Management (BSWM), they are still holding cloud seeding operations in specific areas which has so far yielded positive results.
Magat Dam, on the other hand, is set to release water for irrigation on June 3, according to the BSWM. – (with details from Rey Pelayo)
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