Pagasa: Big Luzon dams may reach critical levels in April

All eight major dams in Luzon may reach critical lows by next month as water levels continue to drop due to the El Niño phenomenon. Susan Espinueva of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s (PAGASA) Hydrometeorological Division warned that falling water levels could limit electricity production and deplete water supply for farmlands. "Because we get a deficit each time the water level falls, the water requirements for irrigation cannot be fully satisfied and power supply will be affected," Espinueva told GMANews.TV in Filipino in a phone interview on Tuesday. She said the peak of El Niño’s effects might be felt in April, when the dams will have reached critical levels. "The water level will really go down due to lack of rain," she pointed out.

Based on PAGASA’s Website, the water levels of the eight reservoirs have dropped below normal, with Magat dam in Isabela province most affected. As of March 2, Magat dam was already 26.51 meters below its average level of 183.29 meters, about half a meter below its 157.19-meter level on March 1. "The level of Magat is critical. As a result, upland agricultural areas can no longer be supplied with water. Only low-lying areas will be served," she said in Filipino. Magat Dam is a major source of irrigation water for Cagayan Valley provinces and supplies additional hydroelectric power to the Luzon grid. Espinueva said the government should also closely monitor Angat Dam in Bulacan province since it was already 6.07 meters below its normal level of 197.78 meters. The water level of Ipo Dam, also in Bulacan province, went down further to 100.63 meters on Tuesday from 100.75 meters the day before, while the La Mesa dam in Quezon City fell by about a centimeter to 79.89 meters on Tuesday from a day earlier. The Angat-Ipo-La Mesa water system provides irrigation to Bulacan and Pampanga provinces and supplies potable water to Metro Manila. Meanwhile, the water level in Binga Dam in Benguet province has dropped to 562.55 meters — 11.45 meters lower than its average level of 574 meters. The Ambuklao Dam, also in Benguet, was 11.72 meters lower than its normal level of 752 meters, while the water level of San Roque Dam in Pangasinan was 2.71 meters short of its normal level of 250 meters. All three dams are major producers of hydroelectric power for the Luzon grid, and San Roque also provides irrigation to hundreds of square kilometers of farmlands. Meanwhile, the current level of Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija province was pegged at 202.3 meters — 6.14 meters short of its normal level. All dam levels were “below normal and near critical," said Espinueva, adding that the steady decline was a "critical trend" because the country has yet to feel the drought’s full effect. Worse than 2008 This year’s dry spell, which might last until the second week of May, is worse than 2008, according to Espinueva. She added, however, that it is “a lot milder" than the 1997-1998 El Niño. "In 2008, the dams’ water levels did not drop to such low levels," she pointed out. Espinueva said the good news is that the dry spell had apparently reached its peak in February. But the government should brace for its effects since the country has yet to feel “the peak of its impact," she added. Espinueva could not say if the damage this year will be worse, even as she confirmed that more farmlands would likely dry up due to lack of rain and irrigation water. She said the severity of the El Niño drought also largely depends on the length of the dry season that regularly affects wide sections of the country this time of year. CLICK HERE FOR INTERACTIVE MAP SHOWING EXTENT OF EL NINO DROUGHT Mindanao Meanwhile, Espinueva warned that if the trend continues, Mindanao would likely be affected most by the drought in terms of power generation and water supply. “This is dangerous because 30 to 50 percent of Mindanao’s electricity depends on hydroelectric power plants," she said. Espinueva said the government could always implement cloud seeding to induce rains, adding that there are several power plants in Luzon that could augment electricity in Mindanao. — JV/NPA, GMANews.TV