ODOR IN WATER TRIGGERS ‘BOIL WATER’ ADVISORY FOR B. RODRIGUEZ RESIDENTS

Until the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) confirms and addresses the possible contamination, it advises clients to opt for bottled water and other sources

Residents and occupants of establishments on B. Rodriguez St. were advised not to drink water from the tap while the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) checks possible water contamination in the area.

The MCWD also asked its customers on B. Rodriguez St. to boil water from the tap starting Friday, Feb. 22, until further notice.

Water used for cooking, washing food items or for food preparation and for washing hands and brushing teeth should be boiled for one to two minutes, according to MCWD’s Boil Water Advisory.

The advisory was issued to MCWD clients only on B. Rodriguez St. after receiving complaints that water coming from the tap may be contaminated.

Charmaine Rodriguez-Kara, MCWD’s Community Relations and External Affairs head, said they issued the advisory after noting an unusual odor in the water supplied by a pipeline on both sides of B. Rodriguez, from the corner of the Fuente Osmeña circle up to V. Rama Ave.

Among those possibly affected is the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, she said.

A Boil Water Advisory is is- sued by a water utility or local health department as a precaution to protect the public from the risk of consuming water that may be contaminated.

On Thursday, Feb. 21, MCWD sent a Leak Detection Team to the area to determine if there is a leak in the water connection there but they did not find any.

They also visited the house of some of their customers in the area to check where the contamination is coming from.

In the meantime, Kara advised their customers living in the area to boil water from the tap.

They also advised their customers to opt for alternative sources of drinking water like bottled water until the advisory is lifted.

“MCWD is assuring the public that it will not stop until the possible source of contamination is located and the supply is treated so the water will be potable again,” Kara added.