EDITORIAL - Water problem

Last week, water has been scarce in Cebu City and in neighboring areas. In some barangays, water pipes had dried up for at least four days, prompting residents to go elsewhere in search of water.

During those waterless days, some residents in Barangay Capitol Site had to go to their relatives in other areas to wash their clothes or take a bath. Others, those who have no one to go to, had to take a bath using mineral water.

Initial reactions of many have it that the water interruption was caused by the El Niño weather phenomenon. During El Niño, it has been normal for rivers and water wells to dry up.

But The FREEMAN later learned that a busted well station in Barangay Talamban was the main culprit for the widespread water interruption, which hit at least nine barangays in the city.

An advisory placed by Metro Cebu Water District in The FREEMAN said there was an electro-mechanical problem in its well in Talamban. The water district also advised consumers to keep posted for further development.

However, even if MCWD and other water distributors in Metro Cebu continue to efficiently serve their consumers, the problem on scarcity of water will always remain. 

The fact is, those water distributors cannot really cope with the increasing inhabitants of the metro, which is the biggest in the country in terms population after Metro Manila.

If there's no immediate solution to the problem, a far bigger trouble on scarcity of water will pester Cebu in the near future that would result to huge economic loss.

For years, some quarters had clamored for additional sources of water for Metro Cebu. There have been areas identified and several proposals made for work on transfer of water from its source to the metro. But it's unfortunate that all this have never been realized.

The problem is, the water sector and those concerned authorities never have any concrete plan for a more modern water distribution. Metro Cebu is in dire need of more water to sustain its growing inhabitants. But as far as the present situation goes, it will take quite some time before the water problem is resolved.