Water vs Power: Can dams solve 2 major crises?

MANILA, Philippines – On normal days, the Angat dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan releases an average of 50 cubic meters per second of water, initially passing through penstock and turbines to produce a maximum of 246-megawatts (MW) of electricity.

After hurdling the turbines, water takes on two separate routes: one is piped through Metro Manila’s ancient water channels and into faucets of around 15 million homes; while the other takes the lesser complicated route across farmland pipes to irrigate 31,000 hectares of rice fields in the provinces of Pampanga and Bulacan.

Since it started operation in 1967, the Angat reservoir had become the main supplier of Metro Manila’s daily water needs. The Water Code has also maximized its use to include irrigation and power generation depending on available water supplies in the reservoir.

Water from Angat dam is also source of ancillary power by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines. If power producers fail to supply requirements in the Luzon grid, Angat is expected fill the gap.

This responsibility, though strategic in the midst of dwindling power supplies, doesn’t sit well with critics since the dam should be prioritizing household consumption needs — especially during dry spells. MORE...