Angat’s water level may normalize this month – PAGASA

Angat Dam's water level may reach the 180-meter minimum operating level (MOL) as Luzon is expected to experience more rain, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Saturday.

PAGASA hydrologist Richard Orendain said the continuous rain can increase the volume of water in the reservoir.

“A daily average rise of

0.30 meter to 0.40 meter can bring Angat’s water level to

the MOL by this month’s end,” he said, taking into account the 36 cubic meters per second water allocation of the dam for Metro Manila.

Orendain said tropical cyclones (TCs), low-pressure areas, the southwest monsoon (habagat) and thunderstorms can still bring rain to Luzon including the watershed hosting Angat.

Angat Dam supplies water for irrigation, power generation, and Metro Manila’s water needs.

The government earlier suspended the release of Angat water for irrigation, if its water level dips, to ensure a continuous water supply for Metro Manila.

This year, Angat Dam’s water dipped below the MOL due to El Niño phenomenon or the prolonged dry spell.

For August, PAGASA has forecast two to four tropical cyclones in the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), one of which became Typhoon Hanna (international name Lekima).

PAGASA reported that Angat’s 6 a.m. water level on Saturday was at 172.31 meters, which is 1.43 meters higher than the 170.88 meters elevation 24 hours earlier.