By Catherine J. Teves
MANILA, Oct. 27 (PNA) – An expert expects Metro Manila’s main water source Angat Dam in Bulacan to meet demand for its water until 2014’s end but urged further conservation to help guard against possible shortage of this liquid early next year.
“It’s too early to say with certainty there’ll be water shortage in 2015’s first quarter but people must continue conserving the water since projections show Angat won’t have a comfortable surplus of this liquid in December,” said Danny Flores, senior hydrologist at government’s weather agency Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical andAstronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
He acknowledged latest available PAGASA data show Angat’s water level continues rising.
Water level there already rose beyond Angat’s rule curve which is the threshold government uses as guide in operating the dam so this facility can meet its purpose of supplying water for domestic use, irrigation and power production, he said.
Latest available forecast indicates such rise in water level will be insufficient to surpass, by 2014’s end, the 210-meter normal high water level mark PAGASA set for Angat during the rainy season, he noted.
“What’s ideal is for water level there to be between 210 meters and 212 meters so Angat can have more surplus water for the forthcoming summer months,” he said.
He noted such happened several years back, sparing Metro Manila and other areas serviced by Angat the burden of having to experience water shortage.
PAGASA data show Angat’s water level at 204.87 meters as of 6 a.m. Oct. 27.
Such water level is already 9.05 meters above Angat’s 195.82-meter rule curve for the day and higher than the 204.75-meter level reported for the dam as of 6 a.m. Oct. 26, the data further show.
Citing PAGASA’s projections for November 2014, Flores said water level in Angat is expected to further rise to 206.50 meters – exceeding the 205.70-meter mean rule curve there for that month.
He noted Angat’s water level will rise even more to 208.80 meters in December this year, surpassing the 207.30- meter mean rule curve there then.
“The surplus water won’t be much but such projection is still good as this means water shortage is unlikely in November and December this year and we can expect Angat to have water for its three purposes,” he said.
He added historical records show Angat generally fills up during a year’s last quarter. (PNA)