WATER rationing is now in effect in at least 15 areas in Cebu City after the water level at the Buhisan Dam reached a critical level.

Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) Public Affairs Manager Charmaine Rodriguez-Kara said that while the Buhisan Dam is usually capable of producing 5,000 cubic meters of water per day, the present water production is only 1,900 cubic meters per day.

“Our consumers served by Buhisan Dam will experience fewer service hours compared to normal days or before the El Niño,” Kara said.

This affects 7,000 service connections served by the Buhisan Dam, or around 3.7 percent of MCWD’s total water service connections in its franchise area, which is around 190,000.

The areas affected by the critical water supply are the elevated parts of Banawa and Horseshoe Drive in Barangay Guadalupe, Barangay Capitol Site, Oprra in Barangay Kalunasan, Sitio Ipil-Ipil and Clavano St. in Barangay Camputhaw, Barangay Sambag 1, Barangay Sambag 2, F. Ramos St., B. Rodriguez St., Juana Osmeña St., Pier Area, North Reclamation Area., M.J. Cuenco Ave., and M. Velez St.

At the Jaclupan Dam in Talisay City, water level is now at 27,000 cubic meters compared to its normal level of 33,000 cubic meters.

To minimize the effect of the dry spell on water supply, Kara urged the public to conserve water as the weak El Niño continues to affect Cebu.

Consumers are advised to use only the water that they need to allow the existing supply to last until after the El Niño phenomenon.

To augment the water supply in Cebu City, Kara said four wells are about to be commissioned this year in anticipation of the full effects of the El Niño. (EOB/LRC)