Laguna de Bay water level drops below critical high mark

LUCENA CITY — After more than a month above the critical-high mark, the water level at Laguna de Bay fell below the threshold, reaching 12.41 meters on Thursday morning, the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) said.

The latest reading, recorded at 8:30 a.m., was 0.09 meters or nine centimeters below the 12.50-meter critical-high level, according to an LLDA advisory. 

“Based on the latest official monitoring of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), the water level of Laguna Lake continues to show a steady downward trend,” the agency said.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: Laguna Lake water level stays above critical-high mark

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

The LLDA attributed the decline to prevailing El Niño conditions, which have brought reduced rainfall and increased evaporation across the basin.

The agency identified 10.50 meters as the critical low-water level and 12.50 meters as the critical-high level. At 12.41 meters, the lake remained above the critical-low level and below the critical-high threshold.

The last time the lake’s level was below the critical-high mark was on Aug. 28, when it stood at 12.35 meters. It remained above the threshold from Aug. 29 through Wednesday, reaching 12.75 meters from Sept. 9 to 11.

Despite the lake level falling below the critical-high threshold, the LLDA said it would continue to closely monitor conditions to assess the potential and progressive impacts of the prevailing dry conditions on the Laguna de Bay region. 

Laguna de Bay serves as a natural catch basin for water from watersheds in Laguna and Rizal provinces, as well as parts of Metro Manila. Rising lake levels consequently increase the risk of flooding in low-lying communities along its shores./coa