Wednesday, July 28, 2010

News Update PAGASA says Angat water level steady, sees more rains coming

The water level at the Angat Dam remained steady Wednesday, even as state weather forecasters said an inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) will bring rains to the country.

In its dam status monitoring, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Angat's water level was at 162.73 meters as of 6 a.m.

PAGASA said the 162.73-meter level was the same as 6 a.m. Tuesday – some 18 meters below the critical level of 180 meters. Parts of Metro Manila are experiencing low water supply due to the reservoir's low water level.

Angat Dam manager Rodolfo German had said two to three more weeks of rains are needed to bring Angat's water level to the critical level of 180 meters. Angat supplies 97 percent of Metro Manila's water needs.

The dam's water level rose last weekend when heavy rains fell near the area.

Meanwhile, PAGASA said an ITCZ may bring rains to Central and Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

"Central and Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers and thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon and evening," it said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. — LBG