Worsening ‘water crisis’

As glitches set on COWD’s west supplier Rio Verde

THE Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD) has resorted to schedule delivery of water in the city’s west district areas foremostly affected by water shortage since Tuesday, last week.

This, as the water crisis may last for over a week after the Rio Verde Water Consortium Inc., the COWD’s bulk water supplier, experienced a major damage in their system.

Ladele Sagrado, COWD public information and relations division’s manager, said while the repair works are now underway, an operation center had been installed at their booster station in brgy. Macasandig to facilitate water delivery in areas where water supply was totally interrupted.

“Nagbutang ta’g operation center sa Macasandig nato nga booster station para mag-facilitate sa delivery sa tubig. Naa pud ta’y gihimo nga valve adjustments,” Sagrado said.

The COWD has tapped the fire department to make use of the fire trucks to deliver water in Lumbia, Calaanan, Pagatpat, Patag, Iponan, Bulua, and Opol in Misamis Oriental.

A portion of water supply for the city’s first district is sourced from Rio Verde while other sources are the COWD’s production wells in Balulang and Calaanan

which are currently helping in supplying water in other west areas.

“Kaning Kauswagan, Bonbon, Bayabas, diha man gaagi sa Carmen reservoir dili kaayo apektado ana pero hinay ang agas. Pero sa Patag, Bulua, Opol and those from upland or elevated areas wala gyud,” Sagrado said.

Sagrado said affected areas may also request for water delivery by calling 857-2469 and coordinate with the COWD operation center in Macasandig.

“Depende kung pilay capacity sa truck then moadto dayon na sila sa strategic location sa usa ka area kay maglisod man og sulod ang mga truck kung mag-eskinita gyud sila og deliver,’ Sagrado added.

The COWD has conducted a site visit to the Rio Verde facility to check the status of the repairs and to discuss remedial measures.

Due to the extent of the damage, the COWD says repair works may last up to 10 days.

Rio Verde is also planning to install a redundant spare line for the portion crossing the Cagayan de Oro River to prevent the recurrence of shutdown to facilitate leak repair should similar incident happens in the future.

The COWD said it will continue to facilitate water delivery to the affected areas until final repairs at Rio Verde will be completed.