By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Recent rains brought by Typhoon Inday (Bavi) and the southwest monsoon have slightly increased the water level of Angat Dam, but authorities warned on Monday that the reservoir remains well below its critical level, prompting continued water conservation measures and restrictions on irrigation releases.
Data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) showed that Angat Dam’s elevation reached 156.09 meters above sea level (masl) on Monday morning, a modest improvement from the 155.91 masl recorded the previous day—the reservoir’s lowest level in more than a decade.
Despite the slight recovery, National Water Resources Board (NWRB) Executive Director Sevillo David Jr. said the increase is not enough to ease concerns over the country’s primary water source for Metro Manila.
He explained that the current elevation remains among the lowest recorded since 2010 and is still far below the dam’s critical level of 160 meters.
To preserve available water, the government has temporarily suspended releases for irrigation, giving priority to domestic consumption in Metro Manila.
David said water managers are relying more heavily on Ipo Dam and La Mesa Dam to supplement the capital’s supply, allowing authorities to reduce withdrawals from Angat Dam while its storage remains critically low.
Because of these alternative sources, only limited amounts of water are currently being released from Angat to meet Metro Manila’s daily requirements.
The NWRB is also working closely with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) to identify additional water sources that could help stabilize supply should reservoir levels remain low.
Officials likewise appealed to households and businesses to continue conserving water by avoiding unnecessary consumption and reusing water whenever possible.
Angat Dam supplies roughly 90 percent of Metro Manila’s potable water, making its water level a key indicator of the region’s long-term water security.
While the recent rainfall has provided a temporary boost, authorities stressed that significantly more precipitation will be needed before the reservoir returns to safer operating levels.
Water managers said they will continue closely monitoring weather conditions and dam inflows as the rainy season progresses, hoping sustained rainfall will gradually restore Angat Dam’s storage in the coming weeks.
ia/xf
