Conserve water, Filipinos urged

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos have been advised to be frugal in using water as the water levels in dams are declining ahead of the onset of the dry season.

Water supply in major dams in Luzon including Angat is not at “safe levels,” the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday.

“We always ask the public to conserve water, because if we don’t, we might experience shortage this summer,” PAGASA hydrologist Elmer Caringal said.

PAGASA has yet to declare the start of the dry season or summer due to the presence of a “weak” northeast monsoon.

As of Sunday morning, the water level in the Angat Dam was 203.88 meters, or just 10.69 meters above its operational level of 193.19 meters.  

“For me this is low,” Caringal said.

The Angat Dam supplies 98 percent of Metro Manila’s water needs.

“Every day we record a decrease of .21 meter,” Caringal said, referring to the Angat Dam.

The dam’s water level is lower compared to the same period last year.

The probability of tropical cyclone occurrences, which could raise water levels in reservoirs, is slim during the dry season.

Caringal said the water level in the Angat Dam should be at 215 meters before the dry season starts, for it to be considered sufficient.

The weather bureau may officially declare the start of summer in the last week of this month or early April.

Caringal issued the advisory despite the prevailing weak La Niña event, which is associated with above normal rainfall. 

PAGASA earlier said the weak La Niña condition was not expected to bring “significant” amount of rain in the coming months.