WATER ELEVATION. Water at the Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija is far from the spilling level despite the rains brought by Tropical Storm Florita. The National Irrigation Administration-Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation System said on Wednesday (Aug. 24, 2022) the water elevation is only 187.45 meters while its spilling level is 221 meters. (File photo courtesy of NIA-UPRIIS)
CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija – Water at Pantabangan Dam is far from its spilling level despite the rains brought by Tropical Storm Florita, the National Irrigation Administration-Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA-UPRIIS) said on Wednesday
Based on the data released by NIA-UPRIIS as of 7:45 a.m., the dam’s water elevation is 187. 45 meters above sea level, which is way below the dam's 221-meter spilling level and 211.66-meter rule curb or ideal water elevation.
Engr. Rosalinda B. Bote, department manager of NIA-UPRIIS, assured the public they will not open the gates of the dam during rain pours.
She said they are still filling up the dam for the next dry crop season in 2023.
Bote earlier said Pantabangan Dam needed to reach a water level of 214 meters to irrigate its total covered area of 140,000 hectares for the dry season.
She advised farmers to maximize the use of rainwaters.
"Atin pong gamitin ang rainwaters dahil talagang hindi po tayo magre-release ng tubig sa Pantabangan Dam. Ito po kasi 'yung panahon para tayo ay mag-imbak (Let us use the rainwaters because we are not going to release water from Pantabangan dam. This is the time for us to store water)," she said in an interview.
NIA-UPRIIS which operates Pantabangam Dam and other smaller dams, supply irrigation water to farms in Nueva Ecija and portions of Bulacan, Pampanga and Tarlac. (PNA)
