MANILA, Philippines, April 4 ----- The water level of Angat Dam and five other dams in the country further dropped amid the dry season being experienced in the country, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Based on the monitoring of PAGASA Hydro-Meteorology Division, as of 6 a.m. on Sunday, the level of Angat Dam reached 201.60 meters, .31 meters lower that its level on Saturday morning of 201.91 meters. Angat Dam supplies more than 90 percent of Metro Manila’s potable water needs and provides for the irrigation needs of 25,000 hectares of farmlands in Bulacan and Pampanga.J. Gordon said. On the other hand, the level of Ipo Dam was at 98.68 meters, 0.05 meters less than its level of 98.73 meters on Saturday; Binga Dam, 570.14 meters, .47 meters less than its previous level of 570.61 meters; San Roque Dam, 241.41 meters, down by .43 meters compared to the Saturday level of 241.84 meters; Pantabangan Dam, 183.20 meters, .31 meters less than its previous level of 183.51 meters; and Caliraya Dam, 286.71 meters, .16 meters lower than its level of 286.87 meters the day previous.
In a separate radio interview, PAGASA hydrologist Oyi Pagulayan said that water evaporation is high because of high temperature. “Based on our past records in our dam officers, there is a downward trend in the level of all dams because of high evaporation brought by the high temperature. Climatologically speaking, this is the trend of summer months,” Pagulayan said.
She called on the public to continue to conserve water amid the threat of the El Niño phenomenon. “We keep on reminding the public of the consciousness in the use of water. The level of Angat Dam is higher compared to its rule curve, it does not mean we can afford to waste. We still encourage everyone to be careful in the consumption of water,” she added.
Pagulayan said that Angat Dam is 11.47 meters away from its rule curve elevation of 190.13 meters. National Water and Resources Board (NWRB) Executive Director Sevillo David Jr. has urged the public to conserve water to prevent the country’s experience in 2019 where the level of Angat Dam reached as low as 116 meters after the El Niño phenomenon hit the country.
PAGASA warned that El Niño will be experienced starting June or July 2023.
Source: philstar.com
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