DA banks on cloud seeding to boost Angat Dam water level

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is banking on cloud seeding operations to induce rain and improve water level in Angat Dam, which supplies up to 90% of Metro Manila’s raw water requirement.

The government is set to stage cloud seeding operations to improve water conditions, particularly in Pampanga and Bulacan, Agriculture Secretary William Dar told reporters in an interview on the sidelines of the Rural Development and Food Security Forum at the ADB headquarters in Mandaluyong City.

“We are part in terms of managing this El Niño phenomenon. We are now ready in terms of the cloud seeding operations in the areas that are having shortfall in rainfall during this time of the year. And in due time, that will be done anytime soon,” he said.

“We would like to believe that the cloud seeding operations can help induce more rains.”

Manila Water Co. Inc. announced another series of service interruptions in Metro Manila and the Rizal province, citing the drop in Angat reservoir’s water level.

Manila Water services the East Zone area, covering 23 cities and municipalities spanning 1,400-square kilometers.

The East Zone includes the cities of Makati, Mandaluyong, Pasig, Pateros, San Juan, Taguig, Marikina, most parts of Quezon City, portions of Manila, and 14 towns of Rizal province.

West zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. also announced similar service interruptions for customers in the cities of Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Manila, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, and Quezon.

While water supply from Angat remains above the critical level, data released by state weather bureau PAGASA on Sunday showed that the water level has dropped to 185.39 meters.

Constructed by the National Power Corporation (NPC), the Angat reservoir is now a multipurpose dam for hydropower, water supply, irrigation, and flood control.

“This is also a case that highlights that we need to really harvest more rains during the rainy season so that we can have more water during the dry season,” Dar said. —VDS, GMA News