Angat Dam Recovers to 200m Level After Historic Low, Easing Metro Manila Water Supply Fears

Angat Dam has recovered to a 200-meter water level on Monday after hitting its historical low of 150.42 meters a month ago, due to recent inclement weather brought by the southwest monsoon, according to the state weather bureau on Monday. The dam reached 200.20 meters above sea level after it gained a 2.20 meter increase in the past 24 hours, according to the 8:00 a.m. dam information of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). Angat Dam has already increased by nearly 50 meters since its historic low of 150.42 meters on July 25. Its continuous uptrend in water elevation follows continuous inclement weather in the past month and recent days, primarily due to the southwest monsoon being enhanced by tropical cyclones. Rosalie C. Pagulayan, assistant weather services chief of PAGASA, said that the sustained rainfall within the watershed helped Angat reach its 200-meter operating level. “The soil in the watershed is already saturated with water, so the rainwater is now flowing directly into the dam,” Ms. Pagulayan said in a message via Messenger on Monday in Filipino. Angat Dam’s water level is being closely monitored as it supplies over 90% of Metro Manila’s water supply. There is also a concern of looming Super El Niño by the end of the year, bringing below-normal rainfall conditions in parts of the country, causing to strain the country’s water supply. — Edg Adrian A. Eva