Water levels in the country’s lakes and reservoirs may suffer further decline as the State weather bureau forecasts way below to below average rainfall over the watershed areas in April.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration, Angat Dam in Bulacan could receive way below normal rainfall next month.
Below normal rainfall is expected over Magat Watershed in Isabela, Malinao Watershed in Albay, Pantabangan Watershed in Nueva Ecija, San Roque Watershed in Pangasinan, Lake Buhi in Camarines Sur, and Lake Lanao in Lanao del Sur.
Based on PAGASA monitoring yesterday, water levels at Angat, San Roque, Pantabangan, and Magat Dams have further declined.
Angat’s water level further decreased from 195.91 meters last Sunday to 195.54 meters yesterday. Its normal high water level is at 210 meters.
Water levels at San Roque Dam also went down from 261.70 meters to 261.34 (normal high water level is at 280 meters); Pantabangan Dam from 201.23 meters to 200.92 meters (normal high water level is at 216 meters); and Magat Dam from 164.84 meters to 164.36 meters (normal high water level is at 190 meters).
Last Sunday, PAGASA warned that Angat Dam, which is Metro Manila’s major source of domestic water supply, is in danger of breaching its 180-meter low water level by end of April.
Should the Angat Dam reaches its 180-meter low water level, PAGASA said the supply of domestic water would remain normal.
However, it urged the public to conserve water as early as now.
Hot and humid weather will prevail over most of the country throughout the week, as the easterlies will continue to be the dominant wind system coming from the Pacific.
PAGASA said Aurora, Quezon, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, Sorsogon, Visayas, and Mindanao will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy skies. (Ellalyn V. Ruiz)
