Water service in Busay, Lahug improves

CEBU, Philippines - Residents of barangay Busay and the upper part of barangay Lahug, Cebu City received yesterday an early Christmas treat from the Metropolitan Cebu Water District.

For the first time in the history of water system in the area, residents were able to enjoy a 24-hour water supply starting yesterday.

MCWD also lifted the suspension for the application of new water service connection in the area after they suspended accepting new applications over a decade ago.

MCWD General Manager Armando Paredes said they have opened about 700 slots for water service connection because MCWD’s water source in Lahug has increased in pumping capacity and they decided to fully utilize a parallel line to the existing line in the area.

“In our search for ways to improve the water system in the areas, we discovered na naa pa mi’y usa ka parallel line sa existing line na wala gigamit all the time. We also have two booster pumps, one of which used to be a back-up of the other. We are now using the two booster pumps so the two lines can operate simultaneously,” Paredes said.

The addition of one pressure booster pump operating simultaneously with the other and the utilization of another line has doubled the volume of water that MCWD supplies to Busay area.

The additional booster pump has increased the water pressure to 30 PSI (per square inch) from five to 10 PSI said Atrophel Logarta, Production and Distribution Department Manager. High water pressure is needed to push the water in elevated areas such as in Busay.

From 8,000 cubic meters daily, MCWD can now supply about 2,000 cubic meters a day. There are about 800 households in the area connected to MCWD and the increase in the volume of water that the utility company is able to supply opened some 700 slots for new connection.

MCWD has started accepting applications not long before and has actually approved and connected 200 households.

Paredes however said that they cannot guarantee the continuity of the 24-hour supply because he said one of the two booster pumps can conk out anytime.

Paredes said the booster pumps are already old and since it will work 24 hours a day, there is a possibility of breaking down anytime.

“The booster pumps are about 20 years old. We purchased new booster pumps but it will take two months to arrive so we cannot guarantee continuity of the 24 hours supply within two months,” he said.

In the event that one booster pump breaks down, the service will go back to alternate supply in different areas until they are able to repair the pump.

“If it will conk out, we have spare parts so there will always be interruption. We are keeping our fingers crossed that nothing will happen,” Paredes said. (FREEMAN)