By Dino Balabo
 |
| Angat Dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan. |
MALOLOS
CITY—Water elevation at the giant Angat Dam climbed by 2.65 meters in 24 hours
breaching its spilling level of 210 meters above sea level (masl) due to rains
brought by super typhoon Yolanda.
However,
the National Power Corporation which manages the dam said they will not spill
water yet; and added that 210 meters is “normal high water level during flood
season.”
Records
showed that water elevation at the Angat Dam climbed to 211.25 masl at 9AM
yesterday, from 208.60 masl on Friday.
According
to Engineer Rodolfo German, Angat Dam which supplies 97 percent of Metro
manila’s potable water requirement can hold up to 217.4 masl.
German
is the the general manager of the Angat River Hydroelectric Power Plant (ARHEPP)
of the Napocor.
He
stressed that they will only spill water if there is another typhoon coming
towards dam and will bring more rains.
“Malaki
pa ang factor of safety, but we can spill water anytime,” he said.
As
of Saturday, he said there is no coming weather disturbance based on latest
weather forecasts.
With
regards to stability of structures of the 47 year old dam, German expressed
confidence.
He
also said that water inflow coming down Sierra Madre mountain is estimated at
568 cubic meter per seconds (cms) while outflow through their power tunnels
that feeds water to Arhepp’s power turbines is only 61 cms.
German
also estimated that water elevation at the dam will further climb to 214 masl
in the next 24 hours.
For
his part, Engineer Russel Rigor, head of the flood forecasting division of the
Napocor explained that the 201 masl is not necessarily the spilling level.
He
described it as the normal high water level.
With
regards to the Umiray Angat Transbasin Tunnel (UATP), German and Rigor said
they don’t know if it is still open.
German
earlier said that it will be closed once water elevation at the Angat Dam
reached 210 masl, but Rigor added that it is the responsibility of the
Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System.
The
13-Kilometer UATP divert water from Umiray River in Quezon Province to Angat
Dam.
With
regards to decision on spilling water in the Angat River, German admitted that
when water elevation at the dam claimed to 210 masl, it is the Napocor’s
decision.
He
said that National Water Resource Board (NWRB) only makes decision on water
release when elevation is below 210 masl.
As
this develop, Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino Alvarado reiterate his call for
preemptive water release of dams in the province including Angat Dam.
In
his weekly broadcast aired over Radyo Bulacan on Saturday, the governor
expressed apprehension on possible flooding in the province in case Angat Dam
spill water.
“Hindi
na natin dapat hintaying umapaw, pagkatapos ay biglaan silang magpapatapon ng
malaking volume, tiyak na babahain na naman ang Hagonoy at Calumpit,” Alvarado
said.
He
also expressed concerned over the stability of the dam noting that President
Aquino have allocated P5.7-Billion for its rehabilitation.
The
said rehabilitation is mean to improve stability of Angat Dam in case of possible
magnitude 7.2 earthquake that will be generated by the possible movement of the
Marikina West Valley Faultline (MWVF).
But
sources recently disclosed that the possible earthquake was used in justifying
the rehabilitation of the dam whose main purpose is to increase its water
holding capacity to meet the increasing needs of Metro Manila.
