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Angat Dam nears critical level; water supply cut looms over Metro Manila

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/06/18/angat.jpg"/><figcaption>The water intake platform becomes visible as the water level at Angat Dam dips further, June 16, 2019. <em>Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - Water supply for Metro Manila may be slashed as Angat Dam&#x27;s water level continued to slide closer to the critical level, regulators and the state weather bureau said Tuesday. </p><p>Angat Dam, which supplies water to the metropolis and Central Luzon, dipped to 161.78-meter mark as of 6 a.m., according to weather agency PAGASA&#x27;s website. </p><p>This figure is below the 180-meter minimum level required for normal operations and just 2 meters above the 160-meter critical level, noted National Water Resources Board Executive Director Sevillo David. </p><p>&quot;Kung hindi pa po darating ang mga pag-ulan at patuloy ang pagbaba, may tsansa po na umabot s&#x27;ya sa 160 meters at pababa pa rin po doon,&quot; he told radio DZMM. </p><p>&quot;&#x27;Pag umabot po s&#x27;ya ng 160 meters, mapipilitan po tayong magbawas na ng alokasyon para sa Metro Manila water supply,&quot; the official warned. </p><p>(If the rains do not come and the dam&#x27;s level continues to slide, there is a chance that it will reach 160 meters or even lower. If it reaches 160 meters, we will be forced to reduce the allocation for Metro Manila&#x27;s water supply.) </p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k0vCHSXXBFw?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>The NWRB last month <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/19/govt-slashes-irrigation-allocation-from-angat-dam-domestic-supply-unaffected">slashed water allocation for agriculture</a>, saying this would not affect food supply because farmers were already in the middle of the planting season. </p><p>Angat Dam&#x27;s declining water level, lack of rains due to El Niño, and high demand were blamed for a water supply shortage that brought misery to more than a million households in Metro Manila in March. </p><p>PAGASA on Friday declared the <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/14/19/pagasa-declares-start-of-rainy-season">start of the rainy season</a>. </p><p>However, PAGASA also said weak El Niño conditions which were felt in the tropical Pacific since the last quarter of 2018 is &quot;likely to continue&quot; until August. </p>

<p>MANILA - Water supply for Metro Manila may be slashed as Angat Dam's water level continued to slide closer to the critical level, regulators and the state weather bureau said Tuesday. </p>

MANILA - Water supply for Metro Manila may be slashed as Angat Dam's water level continued to slide closer to the critical level, regulators and the state weather bureau said Tuesday.