Sudden rain too light for parched water sources

RAIN surprised heat-plagued Cebu residents on Friday night, but it wasn’t enough to replenish water supplies that have dropped in a dry spell.

“Its effect was negligible,” said Ernie Delco, Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) general manager for operations.

What caused it? Converging winds over Eastern Visayas and parts of Mindanao brought the rain clouds in, said Ella Comahig of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomical Services Administration (Pag-asa).

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But El Niño, though mild, is far from over. Luzon remained hot, even as it rained in the Visayas.

Comahig said the rainfall recorded from 9:15 to 9:50 a.m. yesterday brought 1.4 millimeters of rain—enough to water the plants, but not to recharge parched aquifers.

More rain will occur if strong winds blowing from the eastern sections of the country push thick clouds in, Comahig added.

For Buhisan Dam to provide 10,000 cubic meters (cbm) a day, for example, one or two days of heavy rainfall must occur. Buhisan supplies water to Cebu City and parts of Mandaue.

The Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) recently announced it has reduced its water supply from Buhisan Dam from 10,000 cbm to 2,000 to 3,000 cbm a day, because of the dry spell.

But MCWD assured it has enough water reserves for its consumers.

Henry Mejor of MCWD said that if the rains come in June, as forecast, the water utility firm’s franchise area will have enough supply. (EOB/JKV)