Luzon dam levels up, thanks to ‘Egay’ rains

SWAMPED Low-lying areas of Barangay San Nicolas inBulakan town, Bulacan province, are flooded due to intense rains dumped by Typhoon “Egay.” The heavy downpour helped raise the level of Angat Dam, where Metro Manila sources its water. —CARMELA REYES-EESTROPE

DAGUPAN CITY—While heavy and continuous rains dumped by Typhoon “Egay” (international name: Doksuri) triggered widespread flooding and landslides in northern Luzon this week, the weather disturbance also helped improve the water levels in major dams in four provinces.

Administrators of the Angat Dam in Bulacan, San Roque Dam in Pangasinan, Binga and Ambuklao Dams in Benguet, and Magat Dam in Isabela said water elevations rose on Thursday due to the incessant rains brought by Egay, which continued to enhance the southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” even as it was already out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday.

The level of San Roque Dam in San Manuel town increased by more than 10 meters in the last 24 hours, according to the San Roque Power Corp., which operates the reservoir.

Data showed that the dam’s elevation was at 238.25 meters above sea level (masl) at 6 a.m. on Wednesday but it increased to 248.83 masl by 11 a.m. on Thursday.

New tropical depression threatens PH as Typhoon Egay leaves PAR
The spilling level of the multipurpose dam is at 280 masl, leaving around 30 meters more before the spilling gates are opened.

San Roque Dam catches water from Benguet’s Ambuklao and Binga dams, both of which have opened gates and released water.

Ambuklao’s reservoir in Bokod town was at 751.30 masl on Thursday, up from 746.43 masl on Wednesday when Egay unleashed its fury over Luzon. The dam’s normal high water level is 752 masl.

Inquirer.net - 05:04 AM July 28, 2023