Utilities talk on losing power, water at once

CEBU, Philippines - The Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) would closely coordinate with the Visayan Electric Company (Veco) to minimize the impact of the power supply problem in Metro Cebu.

This was agreed upon during a meeting by MCWD and Veco representatives yesterday to discuss the impact of rotating brownouts being implemented to the water district's wells and the supply of water to 150,000 consumers.

MCWD sources 95 percent of its water supply 195,000 cubic meters from groundwater wells, which uses electricity to pump out water from the aquifer.

If there is no power, consumers not only lose electricity but water as well.

The remaining five percent of the water district's total daily production is sourced from the 100-year-old Buhisan dam, its lone surface water source.

In a statement, MCWD spokesperson Charmaine Rodriguez-Kara said the meeting was crucial since the two utilities needed to coordinate regarding the power interruption schedules to ensure minimal effects to the public's water supply.

Veco chief operating officer Basti Lacson has assured that MCWD water pumps, hospitals, and government offices rendering crucial services would be the last ones to be "deloaded" or cut off in case of power shortage.

Veco announced the other day that there's a power supply shortage within its franchise area as there are National Grid Corporation of the Philippines transmission lines damaged by super typhoon Yolanda, which hit Cebu last Nov. 8.

Also, due to damage to the transmission lines in Leyte, Veco two power suppliers cannot fully supply the required 150 megawatts (mw) of  power, which is equivalent to around one-third of the distribution utilitity's power need of 440mw during peak hours.

As a result of this power shortage, Veco is resorting rotating brownouts.

Veco spokesperson Theresa Sederiosa said they lacked 20mw power yesterday, which was lower than the 50-mw shortage the other day.

Kara said Veco committed to give MCWD a daily schedule of its rotating brownouts, including that for areas that would be affected, so that the water district can install generator sets where power supply would be interrupted.

However, MCWD is also advising the public to store water for their daily use while the power problem remains unresolved.

"It would be to their advantage if they store water, although we would ensure minimal effects as much as possible," said MCWD General Manager Armando Paredes.— (FREEMAN)