AN OFFICIAL of the Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD) said on Sunday, November 6, that excessive water turbidity of the Bubunawan River due to heavy rains in Bukidnon has forced water supplier, Rio Verde, to temporarily stop its operations, causing some parts of the city to experience low water pressure or to have no water supply.
Engineer Bienvenido Batar Jr., COWD assistant general manager, said the temporary shutdown because of excessive turbidity of the river is the second time in recent weeks.
According to United States Geological Survey, turbidity is the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by suspended solids.
Bubunawan River in Pualas, Baungon, Bukidnon is where Rio Verde Water Corporation sources its raw water, pumping the water to a chemical treatment system to produce World Health Organization-standard quality potable water.
Some 80 percent of the city’s population, living mostly in the western part of Cagayan de Oro, source their water from water supplied by Rio Verde to the COWD.
Batar said the bulk water supply from Rio Verde was reduced to only 800 cubic meters per hour and continually decreased by the hour, adding that by 11 a.m., flow at off take was gradually reduced to 100 cubic meters per hour.
“Despite nga turbid ang water, safe man siya pero dili nila (Rio Verde) ma-clear kay wala nakaya sa treatment mao lang nga dili mapatin-aw (Despite of the water turbidity, the water is safe but they [Rio Verde] was not able to make it clear since the treatment was not capable of do it) ,” Batar said.
“Pagmatin-aw na balik, immediately potable naman pud dayon ang tubig kay kanunay man ang chlorine nga atong gina-feed, so wala gyud nay contamination, no bacteria, it is safe (If the water will be cleared again, its potable immediately since we always put chlorine on it, therefore no contamination, no bacteria, it is safe),” Batar added.
Batar said the east side of the city also experienced low pressure to no water due to the emergency pullout of the pump in production well located in Barangay Macasandig.
Batar said repairs at the said well is expected to be finished by Monday, November 7 or Tuesday, November 8.