THE Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) is expecting an additional 20,000 cubic meters (cu. m.) per day to address the supply and demand gap in its service area.
But until then, MCWD is putting on hold all connection applications in around 35 areas in Metro Cebu due to inadequate supply.
As of July 17, affected areas in Cebu City include Barangays Guadalupe, Kalunasan, Lahug, Busay, Apas, Talamban, Pit-os, San Jose, Banilad, Bacayan, Kamputhaw and Capitol Site.
Also affected are Barangays Ibabao, Babag, Calawisan, Agus, Looc, Buyong, Soong, Maribago, Marigondon, Punta Engaño and Suba Basbas in Lapu-Lapu City.
Water scarcity is experienced in Barangays Looc and Umpad in Mandaue City, and Barangays Tagaytay and Calero in Liloan.
In Cordova, affected areas are Barangays Gabi, Alegria, Poblacion, Catarman, Day-as and Pilipog.
Charmaine Kara, MCWD spokesperson, said that one of the reasons there is little or no water pressure in these areas is because most are located in elevated interiors.
Currently, MCWD is serving only 50 percent of the demand in its service area. Other water users have their own groundwater wells or are being served by private water suppliers.
Above normal production
As of this week, MCWD’s daily production is 227,000 cu. m. (not 270 as reported earlier) from its surface water sources in Jaclupan, Talisay City and Buhisan Dam in Cebu City, giving a normal to above normal production amid the heavy downpours in Metro Cebu the previous weeks. The two sources have a combined production of about 40,000 cu. m. per day.
But with the additional water, a distribution management plan has also been set in place to bring water to “thirsty” areas with the laying of new distribution lines, deployment of booster pumps and improvement of existing ones.
Water from MCWD’s Mambaling Bulk Supply Project, which has a production of 5,000 cu. m. per day, is expected to start flowing before the year ends. This will benefit customers in central Cebu City which are experiencing low pressure to no water during peak demand hours.
Two other supply projects that were already bid out are the Lawaan Bulk Supply project, which has a production of 10,000 cu. m. (not 500 as earlier reported) per day, and the Mactan Bulk Supply project, which has a capacity of 5,000 cu. m. per day, and are expected to bring water to MCWD consumers next year.
MCWD Acting General Manager Noel Dalena said the three new projects are in addition to the Danao Bulk Supply Project, which is already in the construction phase and will bring in an additional 10,000 cu. m. per day in 2019. The volume will increase to 20,000 cu. m. per day after two years as per MCWD’s 20-year contract with Danao City.
“Apart from the ongoing projects, MCWD continues to search for more new sources and will bid these out soon to address the gap between the supply and demand,” Dalena added.