Two weeks of rain brought by tropical storm Kiyapo and the monsoon managed to delay the steady reduction of water in the Angat Dam reservoir, which has gradually been depleted during the summer months and is vulnerable to a prolonged dry spell because of this year’s El Niño.
The Angat reservoir was measured at 151.03 meters above sea level (masl) at 11:00 am on Monday, which was 61 meters below the dam’s 212.00 masl normal high-water elevation or the maximum level for normal operations.
It was a slight increase from the 150. 50 masl measurer on Saturday (July 25).
The reservoir’s volume has plummeted for the past three weeks when it recorded a critical 10-meter decrease with 160 masl on July 3 from a high of 210.29 on Jan. 19. Angat was still at full volume with 200.14 masl on March 22 but the reservoir volume fell to 190.17 masl on April 17.
On May 8, the dam levels dropped again to 180.59 masl, and slid further to 170.23 masl on June 8, which delayed irrigation supply for more than 22,000 farmers in Bulacan and Pampanga.
These farmers rely on the Angat Maasim River System (AMRIS) for irrigating 27,000 hectares of rice farms.
The low reservoir level may also affect tap water provided by the Bulacan Bulk Water System Project
The Bulakan Water Company Inc., which supplies water to residents in the town and other neighboring areas had already issued advisories regarding the worsening condition of Angat dam and has reminded residents to conserve water.
Supplying potable water to Bulacan residents is only the third function of Angat Dam. The facility’s chief purpose is to supply Metro Manila’s domestic water requirements, and to generate hydro electricity. Irrigation is a last priority.