THE Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) commissioned on Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, a new well in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City, the first of over 20 wells that it identified to help address the water supply shortage.
The well site is one of over 20 areas in Cebu City where MCWD will develop wells to serve areas with inadequate supply.
Located on a Cebu City-owned lot, the well has a yield of about 900 cubic meters per day and will improve the supply on Salinas Drive and other parts of Barangays Lahug and Apas.
In a statement, the MCWD said the operation of the well is the first successful result of the partnership of MCWD and the Cebu City Government in addressing the water supply shortage.
For over a year now, MCWD has been in talks with local government units, National Government agencies and non-government organizations to develop wells in city or barangay-owned lots, schools and church properties.
The development of wells is among MCWD’s short-term solutions to the water shortage.
However, MCWD’s data show that Metro Cebu’s groundwater is already severely compromised due to unregulated extraction by private well owners, saltwater intrusion and nitrate contamination.
The water district relies heavily on groundwater sources which comprise 70 percent of its daily supply. Some 26 percent come from bulk water suppliers and four percent from its lone dam, the 107-year old Buhisan Dam.
MCWD’s long-term solutions include the development of the Mananga and Lusaran Dams and a seawater desalination plant.
The water district said it will ask mayors in Metro Cebu for more areas for well sites as well as rainwater catchments so it can replicate the program in other parts of its franchise area. (PR)