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Sunday, October 31, 2004
Over half of Cebu towns water-starved: study
By Liberty A. Pinili and Rene H. Martel
CEBU CITY -- More than half of the towns and cities in Cebu Province, excluding Metro Cebu, have no access to potable water, according to a study conducted in Central Visayas.
According to a study by the Department of Interior and Local Government and the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), the province will need more than P25 billion to implement two phases of a suitable water supply, sewerage and sanitation project.
In a related development, the Cebu City Council this week approved the allocation of over P6 million for the construction of 92 artesian wells, aside from tanks and water reservoirs, especially in mountain barangays.
Last month, the city's 30 mountain barangays were ordered to identify possible water sources so that City Hall can build reservoirs and ensure that residents will still have water during the summer, when water level drops, or if there is a drought.
Of the amount, P778,000 was for 22 artesian wells that the City ordered installed in August last year yet.
About P5.5 million was also set aside for 70 artesian wells, a submersible pump, five water tank steel towers, 18 concrete reservoirs with pipe fittings and pipeline installations in three different areas.
The amount, charged to the Local Development Fund, is additional funding. City Hall already allotted P9.7 million for the project.
Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera authored the two resolutions that carried the allocations.
Residents, especially those in mountain barangays, rely on natural springs as sources of water.
Urbanization
But during the dry season, the wells dry up, making it difficult for them to get water for their daily needs.
Cebu Province also has to come up with ways to provide access to potable water.
The Provincial Water Supply, Sewerage and Sanitation Plan Study, started in 2003 and completed this year, said that while there are several shallow and deep wells in Metro Cebu, "the potential for groundwater development is quite low."
The reason for this is the "rapid decline of forest cover and urbanization," particularly in aquifer (groundwater) recharge areas.
The study identified Cambuhawe Spring in Balamban and the rivers of Pitogo (Consolacion), Balamban, Guinabasan and Sta. Ana as potential sources of water.
It said that 42 percent (1.2 million) of Cebuanos have access to potable water, and most of them are in urban areas.
Rationing
About 508,900 people rely on dug wells (level 3 water supply system), and only 660,625 individuals get water from faucets inside their homes (level one water supply system).
Cebu only has seven water districts, the largest of which is the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) with more than 150,000 connections.
The study noted that water providers in the province share common issues such as "rationing due to insufficient water pressure caused by limited water source, inadequate capacity of distribution pipes and insufficient water quality examination."
According to the study, 70 percent of shallow, open and covered wells are safe.
Also, only 49 percent or 286,570 of households in Cebu have sanitary toilets.
Coverage
"In municipalities that have high water supply service coverage (Lapu-Lapu City, Boljoon, Borbon, Balamban, Moalboal and Tabuelan) high sanitation occurs," it said.
"In low water supply... (Liloan, Carmen and Consolacion) low sanitation coverage occurs."
While there are more sanitary toilets in urban areas, "problems arise from the unsatisfactory disposal of the effluent from the septic tanks or the direct discharge of wastewater to local drains."
In the provincial sector plan, the Province plans to raise water supply coverage to 89 percent in urban and 90 percent in rural areas during the first phase of the project implementation.
In the second phase, it envisions to raise water supply coverage to 95 percent in urban and 93 percent in rural areas.
The water supply and sanitation project will include the construction and rehabilitation of water supply systems, sanitation facilities, urban sewerage and a water quality laboratory, among others.
(October 31, 2004 issue)
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