Cebu water supply improves – MCWD

CEBU, Philippines — Water supply in Cebu is improving with the onset of rainy season, according to the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD).

MCWD Spokesperson Charmaine Rodriguez-Kara said the water sources are recovering from the effects of the mild El Niño phenomenon.

She said the Buhisan Dam in Cebu City, one of the two dams supplying water to Metro Cebu households, is now producing 2,000 cubic meters (cu.m) of water daily since Tuesday.

Though the supply is 5,000 cu.m short of the dam’s average daily production, Kara said “it’s better than nothing.”

"We hope the water level will continue to increase with the onset of the rainy season," she said.

The dam had a zero production since February this year due to El Niño, a meteorological phenomenon characterized by an extended dry season and warmer temperatures.

The Jaclupan wells in Talisay City, on the other hand, now supply 27,000 cu.m of water daily, a far cry from the 7,000 cu.m of water in the last three months.

The wells have an average daily production of 33,000 cu.m of water.

Despite the development, Kara said MCWD’s average daily production is only 238,000 cu.m, lower than the total daily demand of 500,000 cu.m.

Yesterday, MCWD’s production gone down to 230,000 cu.m.

To address the shortage of water supply, MCWD continues to look for more investors and new technologies.

Kara said MCWD has two new investors committed to add 100,000 cu.m of water daily to the district’s current water supply.

She said MCWD is also looking for alternative sources of water like deep wells to address its low supply. (FREEMAN)