MCWD Prepares for ‘El Niño’ Months

(PNA) — The Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) is preparing for the El Niño phenomenon, which is projected to cause a drought from October to December this year, an official said.

MCWD general manager Ernie Delco said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) predicted only three months of drought, but the water district is preparing for six months of low rainfall.

Delco assured the public the effect of El Niño this year will not be as bad as in the past.

Delco said MCWD has a reserved water supply of seven percent, which is equivalent to 15,000 cubic meters a day.

MCWD’s produces 205,000 cubic meters of water a day.

Delco said its production will improve with the additional supply of 18,000 cubic meters a day from the Carmen Bulk Water Project and another 5,000 cubic meters a day from the Pit-os-Talamban reservoir in October.

MCWD production division head Rebecca Jusayan said they have identified areas that would be affected the El Niño.

These are Punta Engaño in Lapu-Lapu City and, in Cebu City, Nivel Hills in Barangay Lahug, Barangay Guadalupe and Oppra in Barangay Kalunasan.

Delco said the possibility of a water crisis is remote because Metro Cebu has several sources of water.

He said MCWD has 120 deep wells all over its franchise area.

“Our existing groundwater wells are less vulnerable to drought because while it takes months to recharge a deep well, it also takes so many months to be depleted,” he said.

MCWD’s franchise area includes the cities of Cebu, Mandaue Lapu-Lapu and Talisay, and the towns of Cordova, Compostela, Liloan and Consolacion. (PNA) JBP/EB