Angat Dam, other Luzon dams' water levels up, gates opened after heavy rains

The water levels in Angat Dam and some other dams in Luzon went up and a few gates were opened after heavy rains from the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) enhanced by Severe Tropical Storm Falcon poured over the weekend.

Angat Dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan had its reservoir water level (RWL) reach 193.84 meters as of 6 a.m. on Sunday, a 2.14-meter rise over Saturday's RWL of 191.70 meters, according to data from PAGASA.

PAGASA said that the country still needs two to three more tropical cyclones to fill the Angat Dam, whose normal high water level is 210 meters. 

The other dams in Luzon with increased water levels as of 6 a.m. on Sunday are:

• La Mesa Dam: 79.79 meters, up from 79.58 meters on Saturday;
• Binga Dam: 574.63 meters, up from 574.58 meters on Saturday;
• San Roque Dam: 258.51 meters, up from 257.25 meters on Saturday;
• Pantabangan Dam: 186.97 meters, up from 186.33 meters on Saturday; and
• Magat Dam: 174.29 meters, up from 172.75 meters on Saturday.

Some dams had a few gates open on Sunday morning to release excess water.

These are:

• Ipo Dam: one gate open at 0.20 meters;
• Ambuklao Dam: four gates open at 2.0 meters; and
• Binga Dam: four gates open at 2.0 meters.

Meanwhile, the water level in Ipo Dam, Ambuklao Dam, and Caliraya Dam went down slightly on Sunday.

The Southwest Monsoon continues to bring rains on Sunday even as Severe Tropical Storm Falcon moves north westward over the Philippine Sea. —KG, GMA Integrated News