MCWD forges new partnerships to increase water supply for Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - In line with its efforts to gradually shift from ground water extraction to surface water sourcing, the Metropolitan Cebu Water District announced its latest venture with both government and private sector.

 In July this year, MCWD will be getting water supply from the bulk water project of the Cebu Provincial Government and the Cebu Manila Water Development Inc. which is expected to deliver 18,000 cubic meters of water daily.

 The volume will increase to 35,000 cubic meters per day in the second year up to the 20th year, which is the duration of the contract.  The additional supply will serve consumers in northern Cebu, specifically Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Lapu-Lapu City and parts of Mandaue City.

 Further, MCWD said it will no longer enter into a bulk supply contract with private suppliers which sources water from the aquifer within MCWD’s service area.

 This is part of the means adopted by the government-owned and controlled corporation also in contribution to the reduction of wastage of water.

 The announcement of MCWD on the initiatives along with its existing programs on reforestation, watershed protection and river basin management is in time for the celebration of World Earth Day every April 22.

 After the Japan International Cooperation Agency  feasibility study on MCWD’s groundwater source that showed that saltwater intrusion is projected to reach inland to as far as Barangay Talamban in Cebu City, the water district, which relies heavily on groundwater, has started its shift to surface water sources.

 In 2009 to 2010, JICA conducted a feasibility study of MCWD’s groundwater sources and presented the projected groundwater status by the year 2030 if MCWD and other private water well developers continue to increase its ground water extraction.

 This brought about the Groundwater Model  which  MCWD is using now. The model is a scientific tool to forecast groundwater supply through the regular collection and monitoring of data from MCWD’s service area.  Apart from the groundwater monitoring, the water district has also implemented measures to lessen losses or its non-revenue water.

 For the past five years, it has consistently reduced its NRW from 30 percent in 2009 to 24 percent in 2013.

 Reducing NRW means better services to its consumers since water is delivered to them instead of being wasted.

 NRW is mainly caused by leaks in the main lines and distribution lines and, partly, due to pilferage.

 MCWD is acquiring better leak detection equipment and constantly rehabilitating its pipelines to minimize leaks and wastage of water.  Aside from reducing NRW, MCWD is also implementing energy reduction measures to lower power costs. 

 MCWD’s entire water system relies on electric power to deliver its current daily production of 206,000 cu. m.

 MCWD consumes an average of 19 million kilowatt hours of power a year for the operation of its pumps and 9,000 liters of fuel for its generator sets.

 To maximize the production of its more than 100 wells and at the same time, keeping its operational cost at the lowest possible, MCWD, through its Electro Mechanical Division, is constantly monitoring the consumption and efficiency of each pump.

 To ensure optimal pump performance, the water district replaces pumps operating below 55 percent of its efficiency.

 Another continuing initiative of the water district is watershed management.

 It recently entered into an agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 for the restoration of riparian zones in Central Cebu river basins.  (FREEMAN)