August 4 ------ THREE major dams in Luzon, including the Ipo Dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan, have been releasing excess water as continuous rain raised their water level to almost full. The southwest monsoon or habagat continued to be enhanced by Typhoon "Falcon" which has already left the country.
From two gates on Wednesday, five more gates were opened at Ambuklao Dam in Benguet, while six gates were opened at Binga Dam, also in the same province, hydrologist Elmer Caringal of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Thursday. One gate of the Ipo Dam was opened at 0.15 meters (m) to release excess water, Caringal said. All seven gates of Ambuklao were opened at 3.50 m. The six gates of Binga were opened at 4.50 meters, he said.
As of 6 a.m. Thursday, the water level at Binga was at 574. 43, just -0.26m water below the normal high water level (NHWL). Ambuklao's current level of 751.65 m is approaching the 752 m NHWL, Caringal said. "We have to open their gates and release water before they reach their NHWL," Caringal said. The level at Ipo was.07 m higher than its NHWL of 101 m.
Pagasa has issued a flood warning after the La Mesa Dam in Quezon City neared its spilling level. Once La Mesa's level hits 80.15 m, water will overflow and can swell the Tullahan River and flood nearby communities in northern Metro Manila. Among the areas at risk are Barangay Fairview, Forest Hills Subdivision, Quirino Highway and Sta. Quiteria in Quezon City, and low-lying sections in the cities of Valenzuela and Malabon, Pagasa. But this may not take place after all, according to Caringal, since the rain volume in the La Mesa watershed had dropped after Falcon left. "Besides, the water from its (La Mesa) reservoir is being supplied through the water concessionaires so it decreases in the process," Caringal said.
In its latest monitoring, Pagasa said La Mesa's reservoir water level (RWL) is at 79.58 m or 0.18 m lower than its 80.15 m NHWL. Caringal said more rain is still needed to fully replenish the Angat reservoir. As of Thursday morning the RWL was at 197.99 m or 1.12 m lower than normal. Angat Dam is the main source of water for Metro Manila and nearby provinces. Pagasa gave assurances there would be no flooding caused by spillage from the dam in the coming days since the southwest monsoon is expected to weaken. ARLIE O. CALALO
Source: manilatimes.net
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