P39-million systems loss monthly: MCWD mulls installing metered hydrants

CEBU, Philippines - The Metropolitan Cebu Water District is planning to install meters in all water hydrants in the city to curb illegal withdrawal of water that is causing the utility firm about P39 million of systems loss every month.

The water district has found out that some unscrupulous people have been drawing water illegally from the 605 hydrants they have installed strategically within its franchise area for their personal use.

Water hydrants are installed in strategic locations to serve as sources in cases of emergencies like fire and other disasters. However, some people are taking advantage of it.

Ernie Delco, MCWD assistant manager for operations, said that they have a 30 percent or about P39 million systems loss due to illegal extraction from unregulated hydrants and leaking pipes.

These unregulated hydrants are fire hydrants that are not metered and given to local government units for free.

MCWD appeared before the city council during the regular session yesterday to present the proposal to install meters in all hydrants within the city as a way to solve the problem.

MCWD proposes to install metered hydrants inside the premises of the local government buildings like in the barangay halls so it will be secured and will be monitored from illegal use.

Delco said that through this, they would be able to minimize losses by accounting for unauthorized water withdrawal and curb illegal usage. He said they are still trying to identify areas where they will install the metered hydrants.

Delco said they are trying the best they can and the way they know how to minimize the systems loss because they do not wish to pass them on to the consumers.

Delco however promise that the utility firm will not charge the city government for its average water consumption for the clean and green program.

According to him, the city will be billed only for water consumption in excess of the average for the clean and green program. It was not immediately known how much is the average water consumption of the city for its clean and green program because they still have to submit the data to MCWD. (FREEMAN NEWS)