Magat Dam likely to survive 3-month rainfall crunch

Magat Dam’s water elevation as of 6 a.m. on Saturday was at 187.33 meters, lower than 24 hours earlier but higher than the critical low, she noted. (File Photo By Handtell – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0)

MANILA — Below-normal rainfall is possible during the February to April period in the watershed hosting Magat Dam but it may still be able to supply water for irrigation and power generation.

“During that period, it’s unlikely for water in Magat to reach this dam’s critical low elevation of 160 meters,” Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) hydrologist Adel Duran said, citing historical trends and other parameters as bases for her assessment.

Magat Dam’s water elevation as of 6 a.m. on Saturday was at 187.33 meters, lower than 24 hours earlier but higher than the critical low, she noted.

“That dam’s operation is still normal,” she said, adding that Magat’s water elevation may dip to almost 183 meters by end of February and an even lower 170 meters to 172 meters by end of April.

Such forecast elevations, however, are still above Magat’s critical low of 160 meters, she said, indicating that the dam in Isabela may still supply water for irrigation and power generation during the three-month period, Duran said.

She added that even light rains over the watershed hosting Magat Dam would elevate water in this facility.

Light rainfall consisting of 60 ml of rain within 24 hours would already raise Magat’s water level by some 0.

17 meters, Duran said, adding that the water level in Magat Dam rises significantly during the rainy season when there’s more rainfall over that watershed.