Angat Dam is now above normal water level — PAGASA

View of Angat Dam from San Lorenzo (Hilltop), Norzagaray, Bulacan.

MANILA — Due to continues rains brought by the low pressure area (LPA) and thunderstorms, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Wednesday that water level of Angat Dam in Bulacan is now above normal.

In an interview, PAGASA Hydrologist Edgar Dela Cruz said that as of Wednesday morning, water level of Angat was 182.69 meters (normal water level is 182 meters).

He said the water level of the Angat Dam started to rise last Aug.30-31 due to continues rains.

Dela Cruz said the water level of the three other big dams — San Roque Dam in Pangasinan, Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija, and Magat Dam in Isabela — also rose but still below normal as continuous rains helped these dams increase their water levels.

”Dahan-dahan umaangat yung mga water level ng (the water level gradually increase) Pantabangan, San Roque and Magat.

As of 6 a.m. Wednesday, the San Roque dam has 253.41 meters, still below its normal water level of 261 meters, he said.

The Pantabangan dam is at 186.38 meters also below its normal water level of 207 meters, while Magat dam has 177.73 meters, also below its normal water level of 182.85 meters.

“Sa Angat, malaki ang inaangat… at least two meters,” Dela Cruz told the Philippines News Agency.

Angat Dam supplies 97 percent of Metro Manila’s potable water needs while the dams of Pantabangan, Magat, and San Roque are major sources of electricity in Luzon and supplies irrigation water to thousands of hectares of farmland in their surrounding areas.

Dela Cruz said the agency remains optimistic that there will be no water crisis despite the expected El Nino phenomenon forecast to start last quarter of this year up to first quarter of 2015.

PAGASA said El Nino will bring lesser rains but heavier rainfall.

”Bago magpalit ng taon sana ang Angat umabot sa 210-212 meters para hindi tayo magshort sa tubig (Hopefully, before the year ends, hope Angat water level will reach 210-212 meters so we will not have water shortfall),” he said.

Still, Dela Cruz advised the public to conserve water to prevent a possible shortage.

“Patuloy pa rin kami nanawagan sa publiko gamitin sa tama at matalinong pamamaraan (We are still urging the public to use water wisely),” he said.