'Desalination to solve water problem'

CEBU, Philippines - The water scarcity in Cebu and other parts of the country should not be a problem anymore as the introduction of power-saving desalination technology makes sourcing of water easier and cost-friendly. 

Water technology provider Mactan Rock Industries Inc. (MRII) chairman Antonio Tompar said that desalination technology has already taken off in the Philippines, while cost of desalinated water has become competitive to that of water sourced from other methods.

Desalination refers to any of several processes that remove excess salt and other minerals from water. Water is desalinated in order to be converted to fresh water suitable for human consumption or irrigation. Most of the modern interest in desalination is focused on developing cost-effective ways of providing fresh water for human use in regions where the availability of fresh water is limited.

In Cebu, Tompar said there are a lot of water sources that can be utilized, as the desalination process will convert brackish water, lakes, seawater, and saline surface water into fresh water, which is now usually adopted by large companies, such as manufacturing firms and resorts.

Tompar, whose company MRII and the Pilipinas Water Resources Incorporated had been providing desalinated water to several companies and even residents in Cebu   and other parts of the country, said that desalination as an alternative way in sourcing water has become very competitive already.

He said this technology, which has been considered as an expensive way of sourcing water in the past, is now becoming very competitive because of modernized and improved machines which consume less power.

Unlike power or electricity, Tompar water should not become a social problem in any locality. 

He said the Philippines has a lot of water sources, aside from huge river banks. Even stored rain water can be converted into purified fresh water that is safe for human consumption.

MRII is now operating 30 desalination facilities in Cebu. The company is supplying a total of 40,000 cubic meters a day across the country.

MRII, is one of the pioneering companies that also introduced the desalination technology in the Philippines, converting sea-water to potable water.

The company is also utilizing surface water from river banks as another source of water supply for water districts, and big industries. 

Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa, for instance, is getting 95 percent of its total water requirement from desalination system. This alternative source could save Cebu from facing dangerous water problem in the future.

Tourism players here said that future investors in the tourism industry in Cebu should cooperate in adopting alternative ways to source water “not just relying on the consistent supply,” or outside supply.

Ealier, Cebu Educational Development Foundation for Information Technology (CEDFIT) official Gregg Gabison said utility providers for power and water in Cebu should address this looming supply shortage immediately, otherwise Cebu will miss a good chance of inviting big BPO investors.

While Cebu is positioning to become the BPO destination in the world, basic necessities like water and power supply should be properly addressed, “sooner of later investors will find out this problem, and we are bound to lose them.”

According to Gabison, water supply shortage should be a major concern for authorities, if Cebu still wants to attract investors.

“The water supply now can not even sustain the requirements of investors,” Gabison said.