Water level in dams decreasing

While dry spell and drought are hitting some provinces due to a weak El Niño phenomenon, water level in dams supplying in Metro Manila is also decreasing.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) hydrologist Jason Bausa said Thursday that the water level at the La Mesa dam in Quezon City is now at critical level.

According to Bausa, as of 6 a.m. yesterday, the reservoir water level in La Mesa dam dipped to 69.25 meters from the recorded 69.35 meters on Wednesday.

The latest water level of the La Mesa dam is at least 10.90 meters low from 80.15 meters, its normal high water level, and close to the very critical level of 69 meters.

In a data from PAGASA, it also showed that this is, so far, the lowest water level recorded at the La Mesa Dam within three years.

In an interview with Bausa, he said that while the water level at the La Mesa Dam continues to decline, the Angat Dam in Bulacan is still able to supply water to it.

“Nasa low water level po ang La Mesa Dam, critical level na po, pero nasusupplyan po ito ng Angat [Dam] kaya nafifill-up po nito yung mga kailangan,” he explained.

However, Bausa bared that the water level in Angat Dam is already below its normal high water level.

On Thursday morning, PAGASA’s Hydro-meteorological Division noted that Angat Dam’s water level is already at 201.89 meters from the 202.30 meters recorded on Wednesday.

The current water level in Angat Dam is at least 8.11 meters lower than its normal level of 210 meters.

This is also slightly higher than the 180 meters critical level of Angat Dam but Bausa said that the state weather bureau is expecting that it might reach the critical level in May if the dry spell is prolonged.

“Around May baka doon po umabot ng 180 meters ang level ng Angat Dam. Mga first week to second week of May, kung tuluy-tuloy ang tag-init,” he said.

PAGASA earlier said that the country is currently experiencing a weak El Niño since the last quarter of 2018.

Below normal rainfall is expected across the country while dry spell and drought will hit some provinces until June or before the rainy season begins.