Water shortage possible next year – Pagasa
(UPDATE) A STATE hydrologist warned on Wednesday that water shortage, especially in Metro Manila, is possible during the first half of 2024 despite Angat Dam's above-normal water level.
Senior hydrologist Elmer Caringal of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) told The Manila Times via Viber that the dam's current normal high water level (NHWL) at 213 meters was not an assurance that there would be no water shortage.
In fact, dam operators have opened at least three gates of Angat Dam, releasing «excess water» to keep the water level at its 212m normal high level, Caringal said.
He explained that Angat Dam, the main source of potable water supply for Metro Manila and other adjoining provinces for irrigation, could still hold water up to 215m high.
«But dam operators have decided to slowly release water through the three gates at a total of two meters since rains continue in the watersheds that keep the dam at its NHWL,» Caringal said.
He said that water shortage would still be likely, especially during the first and second quarter of 2024, when the impact of the El Niño phenomenon will be felt.
Caringal said concerned government agencies have made plans to fully maximize the dam water to supply Metro Manila residents in anticipation of the El Niño. But these would be useless if the end-users would not use water wisely.
«We have only one small dam (Angat) that supplies water to Metro Manila residents whose number continues to increase, meaning more people need water that comes from only one dam,» he said.
The hydrologist said they support plans to establish a new dam to save more rainwater, which can be used as potable water and for irrigation, among others.
In other areas outside Metro Manila, water shortage could not be a big problem, but he said brownouts might occur next year as the El Niño and dry season set in.
With the forecast rainfall outlook for 2024, Caringal said that way below normal would likely be the case, which would affect some major dams that provide power generation.
