The water level at the La Mesa dam in Quezon City reached its 'critical low level' of 68.85 meters on Tuesday, March 12, 2019, the lowest in 21 years. PHOTO BY RUY MARTINEZWATER levels in dams around Metro Manila and suburbs continue to fall, including La Mesa' supply, which is expected to drop to its lowest in 21 years, a hydrologist from the state weather bureau said on Tuesday.As of early Tuesday, La Mesa reached its 'critical low level' of 68.85 meters, a 0.08 drop from Monday, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical, Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.Pagasa hydrologist Elmer Caringal said that based on trends, La Mesa dam may surpass its lowest level of 68.75 meters in 1998.“Within this week baka ma-break nya [La Mesa dam] yung lowest recorded na 68.75 [meters] na nangyari noong 1998 (La Mesa dam may break the lowest recorded of 68.75 in 1998),” Caringal said.He, however, said that this remained a possibility, depending on the consumption and supply from Angat dam.Caringal said that declining water levels may be attributed to low amounts of rainfall since 1998, residential and commercial water consumption and ongoing constructions in Metro Manila.Water levels from other dams have also dropped.Pagasa recorded 200.28 meters for Angat dam, 101.01 for Ipo dam, 749.16 for Ambuklao dam, 572.84 meters for Binga dam, 265.32 for San Roque dam, 204.65 for Pantabangan dam, 169.39 for Magat dam, and 169.39 meters for Caliraya dam.Caringal said that all the other dams maintained normal levels.Critical low levels are set at 180 meters for Angat, 694 meters for Ambuklao, 555 meters for Binga dam, 225 meters for San Roque dam, 171.50 meters for Pantabangan dam, and 160 meters for Magat dam. DIVINA NOVA JOY DELA CRUZ
