View source for La Mesa Dam and Reservoir

{{redirect|La Mesa Reservoir|the reservoir in California|La Mesa Reservoir (California)}}
{{for|the protected area|La Mesa Watershed Reservation}}
{{Use Philippine English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox dam
| name                                 = La Mesa Dam
| name_official                        =
| image                                = La Mesa Dam - panoramio.jpg
| image_size                           =
| image_caption                        = La Mesa Reservoir
| image_alt                            =
| location_map                         = Metro Manila#Luzon mainland#Philippines
| location_map_size                    =
| location_map_caption                 = Location in Metro Manila##Location in Luzon##Location in the Philippines
| location_map_alt                     =
| coordinates                          = {{coord|14.716373|121.072404|dim:30_region:PH_type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| country                              =
| location                             = Greater Lagro, [[Quezon City]], [[Philippines]]
| purpose                              = W
| status                               = O
| construction_began                   =
| opening                              = 1929
| demolished                           =
| cost                                 =
| builder                              = Manila Water District
| designed_by                          =
| owner                                =
| operator                             = [[Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System]]
| dam_type                             = F
| dam_crosses                          = [[Tullahan River]]
| dam_height                           = {{convert|24|m|ft|sp=us}}
| dam_height_foundation                =
| dam_height_thalweg                   =
| dam_length                           =
| dam_elevation_crest                  = {{convert|82.5|m|ft|sp=us}}
| dam_width_crest                      =
| dam_width_base                       =
| dam_volume                           =
| spillway_count                       =
| spillway_type                        =
| spillway_length                      =
| spillway_capacity                    =
| spillway_volumetric_flow_rate        =
| spillway_type2                       =
| spillway_length2                     =
| spillway_capacity2                   =
| spillway_volumetric_flow_rate2       =
| spillway_type3                       =
| spillway_length3                     =
| spillway_capacity3                   =
| spillway_volumetric_flow_rate3       =
| res_name                             = La Mesa Reservoir
| res_capacity_total                   = {{convert|50.5|e6m3|e6ft3|sp=us|abbr=unit}}
| res_capacity_active                  =
| res_capacity_inactive                =
| res_catchment                        = {{convert|27|sqkm|sqmi|sp=us}}
| res_surface                          =
| res_max_length                       =
| res_max_width                        =
| res_max_depth                        =
| res_elevation                        =
| res_tidal_range                      =
| lower_dam_type                       =
| lower_dam_crosses                    =
| lower_dam_height_foundation          =
| lower_dam_height_thalweg             =
| lower_dam_length                     =
| lower_dam_elevation_crest            =
| lower_dam_width_crest                =
| lower_dam_width_base                 =
| lower_dam_volume                     =
| lower_spillway_count                 =
| lower_spillway_type                  =
| lower_spillway_length                =
| lower_spillway_capacity              =
| lower_spillway_volumetric_flow_rate  =
| lower_spillway_type2                 =
| lower_spillway_length2               =
| lower_spillway_capacity2             =
| lower_spillway_volumetric_flow_rate2 =
| lower_spillway_type3                 =
| lower_spillway_length3               =
| lower_spillway_capacity3             =
| lower_spillway_volumetric_flow_rate3 =
| lower_res_name                       =
| lower_res_capacity_total             =
| lower_res_capacity_active            =
| lower_res_capacity_inactive          =
| lower_res_catchment                  =
| lower_res_surface                    =
| lower_res_max_length                 =
| lower_res_max_width                  =
| lower_res_max_depth                  =
| lower_res_elevation                  =
| lower_res_tidal_range                =
| plant_name                           =
| plant_coordinates                    = <!-- {{coord|..|..|type:landmark|display=inline}}-->
| plant_operator                       =
| plant_commission                     =
| plant_decommission                   =
| plant_type                           =
| plant_hydraulic_head                 =
| plant_turbines                       =
| plant_pumpgenerators                 =
| plant_pumps                          =
| plant_capacity                       =
| plant_capacity_factor                =
| plant_efficiency                     =
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| plant_annual_gen                     =
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| website                              =
| extra                                =
}}
The '''La Mesa Dam and Reservoir'''  is an [[earth dam]] in [[Quezon City]], [[Philippines]]. Its [[reservoir]] can hold up to {{convert|50.5|e6m3|e6ft3|sp=us|abbr=off}}, occupying an area of {{convert|27|sqkm|sqmi|sp=us}}. It is part of the [[Angat Dam|Angat]]-[[Ipo Dam|Ipo]]-La Mesa water system, which supplies most of the water in [[Metro Manila]].
==History==
[[File:Philippine Island - Luzon Island - NARA - 68156995.jpg|thumb|left|Aerial view of Novaliches Reservoir, 1940]]
The La Mesa Dam was constructed in 1929 as the Novaliches Reservoir during the [[American colonial era in the Philippines]]. Sometime between 1920 and 1926, the Metropolitan Water District (a predecessor agency of the [[Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System]]) decided to build a replacement for the old [[Wawa Dam]] in [[Montalban, Rizal|Montalban]], [[Rizal (province)|Rizal]]. The Wawa Dam which served [[Manila (province)|Manila]] and surrounding locales had to be replaced due to the growing population of the Manila area.<ref name="pna1">{{cite news |title=How La Mesa Dam became part of Metro Manila's water supply system |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1065459 |accessdate=September 5, 2019 |work=Philippine News Agency |date=March 24, 2019}}</ref>
The La Mesa Dam was built in Novaliches, which was then in the municipality of [[Caloocan]] due to the sloping topography of the watershed area from Bulacan. The dam later became part of a larger system with the opening of [[Ipo Dam]] in [[Norzagaray]], [[Bulacan]] in 1936, and [[Angat Dam]] in the same locale in 1967.<ref name="pna1"/>
The La Mesa Dam was raised in 1959 to increase the reservoir's maximum capacity to its current level.<ref>{{cite web |title=Water and Used Water Facilities |url=https://www.manilawater.com/customer/services/water-and-used-water-facilities |publisher=Manila Water |accessdate=September 5, 2019}}</ref>
==Dam==
The La Mesa Dam is an [[earth dam]] or a [[terrain dam]] ([[caldera]] alike) with a height of {{convert|24|m|ft|sp=us}}. The elevation at its crest is {{convert|82.5|m|ft|sp=us}} while the elevation at its overflow section is {{convert|80.15|m|ft|sp=us}}.<ref name=jica>{{cite journal |title=The Study of Water Security Master Plan for Metro Manila and its Adjoining Areas |journal=JICA Report: Water Balance Study |date=March 2013 |issue=Final Report |page=A - 52 |url=http://open_jicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/12088290_03.pdf |accessdate=September 5, 2019 |publisher=Japan International Cooperation Agency, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System}}</ref> These [[elevation]]s can be observed from [[SM City Fairview|SM Fairview Mall]], the Basement Level and First Floor at the Round about going bayan.
==Reservoir==
The La Mesa Reservoir has a maximum capacity of about {{convert|50.5|e6m3|e6ft3|sp=us|abbr=off}}. Water from the reservoir spills into the [[Tullahan River]] that passes Brgy. Nova Proper (commonly called Bayan) which transports the water to [[Manila Bay]].<ref name="pna1"/>
==Administration==
The [[La Mesa Watershed Reservation]] which hosts the dam and reservoir is jointly administered, supervised, and controlled by the [[Department of Environment and Natural Resources]] of the Philippine national government and the is under the joint administration, supervision and control of the (DENR) and the [[Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System]] (MWSS).<ref name="pna1"/>
==Water supply==
[[File:Metro Manila Water Zones.svg|thumb|170px|Metro Manila and its surrounding areas are divided into two water concessionaires: Maynilad Water (red) and Manila Water (blue).]]
The La Mesa Dam is part of the [[Angat Dam|Angat]]-[[Ipo Dam|Ipo]]-La Mesa water system which supplies water to Metro Manila and surrounding provinces.<ref name="pna1"/>
The water collected in the reservoir is treated at the La Mesa and [[Balara Treatment Plant]]s. The La Mesa facility has a designed capacity of 2,400 million litres per day (mld) and serves the western half of Metro Manila, while the Balara facility has a capacity of 1,600 mld and handles the remaining eastern section.<ref>{{cite web |title=Metro Manila Water Supply System |url=http://mwss.gov.ph/learn/metro-manila-water-supply-system/ |publisher=Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System |accessdate=September 5, 2019}}</ref>
Whenever the dam’s water level drops below the critical mark of {{convert|69|m|ft|sp=us}}, the MWSS, [[Maynilad Water Services|Maynilad]], and [[Manila Water]] begin regulating water dispensed to customers.<ref name="pna1"/>
== Areas potentially affected by spills ==
Because the dam is designed to overflow into the Tullahan River, the locations affected by spills from the dam in cases of extreme weather are Fairview, Valenzuela, Navotas, Quezon City and Malabon.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rappler.com/philippines/9870-heavy-rainfall-in-manila-cause-floods-raise-dam-levels/#:~:text=The%20dam%20is%20designed%20to,Navotas%2C%20Quezon%20City%20and%20Malabon. | title=La Mesa dam overflows | date=August 5, 2012 }}</ref>
==See also==
* [[List of lakes in the Philippines]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* [https://archive.today/20080509090816/http://www.manilawater.com/about-us/water-supply-system Angat-Ipo-La Mesa System from Manila Water Company]
* [http://wn.com/la_mesa_watershed La Mesa Watershed and Eco-Park]
{{Dams in the Philippines}}
[[Category:Dams in the Philippines]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Quezon City]]
[[Category:Water supply and sanitation in Metro Manila]]