MCWD to start laying pipes in Lapu-Lapu to support projects on desalination plants
THE Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) is set to start on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, civil works and pipe-laying activities in Lapu-Lapu City to support two desalination plant projects that are expected to produce a total of 45,000 cubic meters of water that can benefit over 70,000 of local residents.
The 3,000-meter pipe-laying project is expected to be completed in approximately 300 working days, equivalent to around 10 months. The project spans from Barangay Basak to Barangay Marigondon.
In anticipation of potential traffic disruptions in the area, MCWD spokesperson Minerva Gerodias said the water district had already coordinated with Lapu-Lapu City’s traffic management.
All the digging and pipe-laying work will take place at night and will be restored before daybreak to ensure the area remains passable, Gerodias said in a text message to SunStar Cebu on Wednesday, Oct. 4.
Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan gave the go-signal on Tuesday, Oct. 3 for the MCWD to implement the project.
Chan even suggested that MCWD should stars civil work in front of the Mactan Island Memorial Garden (MIMG) along the Basak-Marigondon Road to minimize inconvenience during the Kalag-kalag observance on Nov. 1 (All Saints’ Day) and 2 (All Souls’ Day).
Gerodias said the pipe-laying project is a crucial step to ensure self-sustainability in Mactan Island’s water supply.
Objective
The project’s objective is to connect MCWD’s pipes to its water suppliers, namely Mactan Rock and Filinvest Development Corp. Utilities Inc. (FDCUI). Once completed, she said the project will augment the city’s water supply by converting brackish seawater into freshwater.
“MCWD aims to deliver consistent and reliable water services soon to the consumers of Lapu-Lapu City, who presently depend on the water supply from mainland Cebu,” Gerodias said.
This project is part of MCWD’s Basak-Marigondon pipeline expansion project, in anticipation of an additional 15,000 cubic meters of water per day from the bulk water supplier, Mactan Rock Industries Inc., as well as an expected 30,000 cubic meters of water per day from FDCUI’s desalination plant in Marigondon.
MCWD and Mactan Rock Industries sealed a 15-year agreement on a bulk water delivery contract, benefiting 75,000 residents of Lapu-Lapu City last July 18. The water supply plant is located in Suba-Basbas, Lapu-Lapu City, and the water will be injected into the network at the intersection of Basak-Cagodoy-Bankal Road via a 2.7-kilometer-long pipeline.
According to MCWD, Lapu-Lapu City has a daily water demand of 144,979 cubic meters.
