JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO
by Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz, Manila Bulletin
Angat Dam’s water level may no longer hit 180-meter critical mark
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Wednesday, May 25, said the water level in Angat Dam may no longer dip below its 180-meter minimum operating level until the end of June, following the rains in the past few months.
As of 6 a.m., Wednesday, Angat Dam’s water level was at 190.60 meters, down 0.15 meters from Tuesday’s 190.75 meters, but still within the rule curve elevation of 184.14 meters.
PAGASA defines the rule curve as the minimum reservoir elevation needed to be maintained by dam operators to ensure the availability of water for irrigation, power generation, and domestic supply.
“Nilagpasan na niya yung sinasabi nating rule curve so masasabi natin yung water level sa Angat ay safe na na maitatawid natin itong dry season na hindi bumagsak ang water level katulad noong previous years (It has already surpassed the rule curve so we can say that the water level in Angat is safe. We have already passed the dry season without the water level falling like in previous years),” Edgar dela Cruz, weather facilities specialist of the PAGASA’s Hydro-Meteorological Division, said during a forum on Wednesday.
Given the forecast rainfall of 316 millimeters and dam allocation of 75 cubic meters per second, Angat Dam’s water level will be at 188.27 meters by the end of June.
This means that although Angat Dam’s level is below its 210-meter normal high water level, it will be above its 181.90-meter rule curve elevation.
Based on PAGASA’s projection, dela Cruz said the water level in Angat Dam will not be less than 180 meters until the end of June.
PAGASA had earlier projected that the water level in Angat Dam, Angat Dam, which supplies 98 percent of Metro Manila’s water requirements, could breach the 180-meter minimum operating level around May.
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