Angat Dam water level improves

The water level at Angat Dam in Bulacan continues to increase due to monsoon rains over the country in the past few days.

Based on the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration’s (PAGASA) monitoring as of Monday, Angat Dam’s water level has increased by almost a meter from 174.13 meters Sunday to 175.10 meters Monday.

Angat Dam’s water level is inching closer back to its 180-meter minimum operating level. It has fallen below the 180-meter mark last April, prompting the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) to suspend water allocation for irrigation of farmlands in Bulacan and Pampanga.

Once water level in the dam reaches its 180-meter minimum operating level, the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) may consider increasing the water allocated for Metro Manila’s domestic requirements.

The current water allocation of 36 cubic meters per second (cms) is split 60-40 to water concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water, respectively. It has been decreased from 40 cms to 36 cms after the dam breached the 160-meter critical level in June.

The normal water allocation for the domestic requirements of consumers in Metro Manila and nearby provinces is 48 cms.

Today, the southwest monsoon (habagat) will still be the dominant weather system throughout the country.

PAGASA weather specialist Ariel Rojas said the weather bureau does not expect the formation or entry of a low pressure area or tropical cyclone inside the country’s area of responsibility in the next three to five days.

Monsoon rains will prevail over Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Benguet, Zambales and Bataan.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers due to localized thunderstorms.

PAGASA warned that sudden rains due to severe thunderstorm activity especially in the afternoon or evening may cause flash floods or landslides in low-lying or mountainous areas.