Luzon dams are still recovering despite rain

Luzon Island has been hit by local thunderstorms, easterly winds and the southwest monsoon since May. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the dams are still recovering. 

“Hindi sapat yung thunderstorm o yung ulan. So minsan can have time to recover, minsan pag sobrang lakas medyo makaka-recover ng konti…tataas [Thunderstorms or rain have not been enough. Sometimes the water level of dams still decrease, sometimes if the rain is strong, they will slightly recover],” said PAGASA hydrologist Juan Elmer S. Caringal in a telephone interview. 

Angat Dam, which supplies 90% of Metro Manila’s water supply, fell further to 177.72 meters, which is 32.28 meters lower than the normal high water level of 210 meters, Friday morning (June 14).  

Meanwhile, the Ipo Dam slowly sank to 100.05 meters, which is 0.95 meters lower than the normal high water level of 101.00 meters. 

The La Mesa Dam has fallen to 76.10 meters, compared to a normal level of 80.15 meters, or a drop of 4.05 meters.

In the coming months there will be an upward trend in water levels at Angat, Ipo and La Mesa dams to be expectedMr Caringal explained.

“Based on historical data namin, lahat yung annual data namin, ang Angat Dam (Ipo and La Mesa) is nakakaka-recover siya, or nagsisimula siyang tumaas [Based on our historical data and all of our annual data, the Angat Dam, Ipo and La Mesa dams are recovering, or starting to go up]”, said Mr Caringal.

As long as the water level in Angat Dam remains constant, there will be no problems with Ipo and La Mesa dams because they draw water from Angat, he added. 

However, for the other five dams, water level recovery periods may vary depending on the topography of the dam and the amount of rainfall.

For the other five dams, here are the current and normal water levels, and the difference from normal water levels as of Friday (June 14):

• Ambuklao – 742.37 meters; 752 meters (difference: 9.63 meters)
• Binga – 570.70 meters; 575 meters (Difference: 4.30 meters) 
• San Roque – 227.68 meters; 280 meters (difference: 52.32 meters) 
• Pantabangan – 177.18 meters; 216 meters (difference: 38.82 meters) 
• Magat Dam – 180.64 meters; 190 meters (difference: 9.36 meters) 
• Caliraya- 286. meters (No data available for the normal high water level)

PAGASA hydrologist Caringal encouraged the public to conserve water to help dams reach normal high water levels.– Edg Adrian A. Eva