MCWD shifts to surface water source to prevent salt intrusion

CEBU, Philippines - The local water district is gearing towards shift from ground water to surface water in order to prevent salt intrusion.

Metropolitan Cebu Water District assistant general manager for operations Ernesto Delco said they have stopped adding extraction of water from ground water source following a study showing that salty water could go up to as far as Barangay Talamban in Cebu City should extraction continue.

“Shift na ta sa surface water para mo-gaangaan na ang atong threat sa ground water. Since last year nga naay board resolution nga no more additional ground water development. In a way, kami sa MCWD nag stop na mi. Sa ato pa, status quo na mi, wa na mi additional,” Delco said.

The growing concern on over extraction, Delco assured, does not come from MCWD since they use flow meter and is now turning to more sustainable surface water.

MCWD is currently under a tripartite agreement with the National Water Resource Board and local government units to help shift to surface water source and mitigate the effects of salt water intrusion.

“Mao ng nag-entertain ta karon ug surface water contracts. That’s thirty five thousand (35,000) cubic meters. Siguro naa kay mga thirty-five (35) wells ana. We get it from outside of the service area of MCWD unya gikan na sa river. These could have been thrown to the sea kung wa na nato gi-tap sa proponent,” he added.

Among the local government units in talks with MCWD to provide surface water are Carmen, Danao City, among others.

“Aside from Carmen, we will be having an injection point in Nivel (Lahug). We will bid it this year so a year from now, we can have twenty thousand (20,000) cubic meters of water flowing. That’s going to be surface water,” Delco said.

He added that Danao City is also offering 20,000 cubic meters “at a good price” from Tangon River.

Currently, MCWD has finished monitoring commercial and domestic wells in Lapu-Lapu City and Mandaue City.

“Mactan has 35 large commercial wells. Fifteen thousand (15,000) domestic wells. These domestic wells have to register at NWRB, no permit needed. Mandaue has one thousand two hundred (1,200) large wells continuing to operate. After this, we will proceed with Cebu City and Talisay City,” Delco said.

He urged private service providers to control their extraction and use flow meter in order to monitor the level of extraction.  (FREEMAN)