MCWD reopens Guadalupe wells

CEBU, Philippines — Deep wells in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City are now being treated and reopened by Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) management to help address the lack of water supply as an impact to the El Niño.

The MCWD board and management led by Chairman Joey Daluz III and General Manager Edgar Donoso, yesterday, April 29, 2024, ceremonially reopened a pipe connecting to at least three deep wells at Guadalajara, Barangay Guadalupe.

Out of the three wells, one was officially commissioned by the MCWD and has recently been treated to address the lack of water supply in the area. The procurement of the remaining two wells is still ongoing.

These water sources were from the Faelnar Compound, Gabutan Compound, and Quijada Compound of the area.

These deep wells reportedly have not been functioning for five years and have recently been treated due to the contamination of high nitrate.

All three are expected to produce 2,000 - 3,000 cubic meters per day and could cater to at least 2,500 households within Barangay Guadalupe.

“I am very happy nga kining tulo ka wells operational na og balik, and I hope makahatag ni og gamay nga relibo sa kakuwang sa tubig,” said Daluz.

Right after the flushing yesterday, residents in the area gathered around the pipe to store water.

Aside from these areas, Daluz said they are eyeing another well in Consolacion town. As of this writing, they have sought the assistance of the mayor to be able to begin the operation and are waiting for feedback.

In the same interview, Daluz also disclosed updates on the continuing plummet of water supply in major dams in Metro Cebu.

As for the Lusaran Dam, from 30,000 cubic meters of production per day, it went down to 8,000 cubic meters.

The Compostela water facility has zero production capacity, while the Jaclupan Dam has reduced to 7,000 cubic meters per day from 30,000 cubic meters per day.

“Almost 50,000 (cubic meters per day) na jud atong water shortage in our usual water production facility,” said Daluz.

In line with this, Daluz reiterated the importance of desalination to patch up the downhill of the water supply.

According to him, processes and works are ongoing to commence the desalination in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City; Barangay Opao, Mandaue City; and Cordova among others that could reportedly “make wonders” to address the water shortage.

“Amo jung gi-expect na by May, hopefully, naa juy muagas,” said Daluz.

With desalination, Daluz said the facility in Opao can produce up to 10,000 cubic meters per day while in Cordova it can generate 5,000 cubic meters per day.

Currently, as for the Cordova facility, Daluz said they are awaiting the opinion of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) in order to officially start the desalination distribution.

“Agas na ang Cordova, what we are waiting for is the OGCC opinion nga di mi ka pirma sa kontrata unless naay favorable na OGCC opinion and we are working on that,” said Daluz.

Further, the Mambaling desalination facility is now undergoing testing.

Last April 1, 2024, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama declared a water supply crisis due to the ill impacts of El Niño.

Meanwhile, to address the resolution passed by the Cebu City Council to “fast track” the desilting of the Buhisan Dam following the drop of water production, Daluz said this is possible but will take “time” to work due to the lack of road access.

“Wa man guy maayong dalan ang Buhisan, way contractor nga musukol nga mag desilt ngadto kay it needs big trucks,” said Daluz.

According to Daluz, Cebu City must first open a wider road going to Barangay Pardo for the contractor and desilt the dam.

The said resolution was filed by majority floor leader, Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera that was tackled during the regular session last April 24, 2024.

Aside from the request to fast-track the desilting of the Buhisan Dam, she also requested the MCWD to provide the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Cebu a copy of the development plan of the same dam to submit updates on the desilting project.

On Pesquera’s resolution, it was said that the Buhisan Dam was built to address “devastating fires” that could hit the city, and the need for a safe water supply during a cholera outbreak.

The dam originally had a capacity of 10,000 cubic meters per day but because of the siltation, its capacity has been reduced to 3,143 cubic meters per day as cited in the resolution.

Daluz, for their part, said that pending the desilting, they have asked the residents around the area to excavate the dam themselves in order to extract sand that they may utilize.

“That’s what we are doing in Buhisan, but dugay na na namo nga plano unta nga among i-desilt,” he said.

Daluz, however, said that the desilting is not the “immediate” solution to address the water crisis.

Donoso on the other hand said that annually, they conduct a manual desilting of Buhisan Dam, hence its capacity has been maintained. — (FREEMAN)