MCWD urged to educate public on saltwater intrusion

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council has passed a resolution urging the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) to educate the public on saltwater intrusion and to also initiate measures to penalize the illegal extraction of groundwater by private water supply entities.

This resolution of Councilor Jose Abellanosa, tackled and approved during the regular Cebu City council session last Wednesday, 3,2024, hopes to address the problem of saltwater intrusion, which has become more of a concern in the already looming water supply in the city.

Saltwater intrusion is a result of over extraction of groundwater, and MCWD has previously explained that the intrusion is a threat since it damages the wells, and the groundwater sources.

As such, Abellanosa’s resolution urges the management of MCWD to conduct a massive information drive and campaign regarding the extent of saltwater intrusion in Cebu City.

He also urges them to educate the public on how it can contribute to “mitigating or minimizing the ill-effects of the worsening salt-water intrusion.”

In the same resolution, he also urges the MCWD to initiate measures to regulate or penalize the “indiscriminate or illegal extraction of groundwater by private water supply entities or companies” found within the jurisdiction of Cebu City.

Abellanosa’s resolution has cited that last September 2023, it was reported that a possible water crisis is looming as Cebu City's groundwater is depleted, resulting in saltwater intrusion.

Cited further was MCWD’s data that there are already barangays in the city experiencing water intrusion namely the Barangays of Mambaling, Sawang Calero, Pasil, Ermita, Santo Niño, San Roque, Tinago, Tejero, Carreta, Mabolo, and Kasambagan.

“The MCWD has also reported that based on a Japan International Cooperation Agency's (JICA for brevity) study, saltwater intrusion will reach Talamban in the north of the city by 2030,” said Abellanosa’s resolution.

It discloses that among the major factors that resulted in the depletion of groundwater is the alleged indiscriminate extraction done by private water-supply entities or companies.

“There is a need for constant and periodic updating of data regarding saltwater intrusion here in our city to make people aware of such crisis through massive information campaign so that the community can contribute and direct its efforts to manage and mitigate the impact of such crisis,” reads Abellanosa’s resolution.

With this, Abellanosa has requested the management of MCWD to submit an updated and more “recent report” regarding the saltwater intrusion.

Backing up this request, Abellanosa underscored a provision that states that the MCWD is mandated to oversee the waterworks system of the city, as well as neighboring cities and shall also see to it that there is ample potable water supply for these cities now and in the future. (CEBU NEWS)