Diminishing supply causes MCWD to miss daily target

CEBU, Philippines - With the onset of the dry spell, the Metropolitan Cebu Water District yesterday reported it fell short of its targeted production for the past three days.         

The deficit was attributed to the decrease in production in both the Jaclupan well fields in Talisay City and the Buhisan Dam in Cebu City.Lower production in both facilities was blamed on the dry spell.

This, as The Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III yesterday admitted water is still a problem for mountain barangays.

He said these barangays’ water sources are either natural springs or wells, unlike in urban areas where most residential houses have their own water connections.

Metropolitan Cebu Water District representatives were in Davide’s office yesterday to inform the governor on the water district’s project for the next seven years.

The governor shared that with the increasing demand for water, MCWD would build additional infrastructure and reservoirs and would do more pipe-laying projects in its franchise area.

He said, however, that for the next seven years, MCWD would only service the Metro Cebu area (the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Talisay, and towns of Cordova, Compostela, Consolacion and Liloan).

Data from MCWD showed that yesterday’s production was just 193,216 cubic meters per day, which is 9,860 cubic meters short of the target production of 203, 216 cubic meters.

Last Thursday, the deficit was higher at 13,383 cubic meters per day, with actual production hitting only 189,833 cubic meters compared to daily target of 203,216.

Last Wednesday, June 4, actual production was at 190,829 cubic meters day, which was 12,387 cubic meters lower than the target.

MCWD also reported that its production, especially in areas where wells and pumps are used, were also affected by power interruptions.

Areas with intermittent water supply were the elevated and interior portions of Lahug, Banawa, Oprra, Quiot, Poblacion Pardo, Talamban in Cebu City; Tabunok, and Lagtang, in Talisay City; Mandaue City; Consolacion; Liloan, and some areas in Lapu-Lapu City. Three water tanks were deployed to these areas.

MCWD also said that low pressure to no water was experienced at the  tip of the MCWD’s pipeline system, particularly the Pier area, Lo-oc in Mandaue, and coastal areas of Lapu-Lapu City.

In Kinatarcan, a 7-kilometer by 3-kilometer island off Santa Fe town in Bantayan Island, people there rely on rainwater.

Every household harvests rain and store it in large vats, which are huge water containers made from cement.

Elvie, a resident of the island, said rainwater is not safe for drinking that they have to buy purified water from their neighbor who sources it from the mainland.

She said the price of potable water is P30 to P50 per five-gallon container. She said that during the dry season, they buy rainwater from neighbors who have bigger water tanks at P15 per five-gallon container.

Kinatarcan has around 9,000 people, including 3,000 are children, most of whom thrive on fishing. —/RHM (FREEMAN)