November rains improve water supply in Cebu

CEBU CITY—Metropolitan Cebu Water District’s (MCWD) announced that rains in November helped replenish its supply for Jaclupan Facility in Talisay, and the Buhisan Dam in Cebu City.

In a statement on Saturday, MCWD Acting General Manager Stephen Yee said the additional supply helped Jaclupan Facility and Buhisan Dam to improve water services in areas already experiencing water rationing.

Yee said Jaclupan Facility’s daily production slightly have improved from 23,000 to 25,000 cubic meters as of the first week of December.

He added that it was the first time the facility increased water production since August this year though it remains below the average of 33,000 cubic meter per day.

The official said if December’s rainfall volume will stay at the normal level, MCWD consumers from Talisay City to Cebu City will see an improvement in their water supply.

According to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) records, rainfall volume in July and in October in Central Visayas reached the average level while for the months of August, September and November, the volume was below average.

The weather bureau has recorded 63.4 millimeters of rain in November, below the 154.4-mm average.

“However, this time, rains replenished the Mananga Watershed, the river and its tributaries resulting in an improved supply for the Jaclupan Facility. MCWD’s Buhisan Dam was also fed with more water from the Buhisan Watershed and its tributaries,” Yee said.

Mananga’s water production has also increased from at least 2,800 in August to 3,500 cubic meter but still below the required average production of 7,000 cubic meters.

Yee said water demand in Metro Cebu is estimated at 500,000 cubic meter per day and MCWD produces only an average of 238,000 cubic meter per day.

“Factors like population growth, economic and business opportunities and in-migration contributed to this fast increase in the water demand over the years in MCWD’s service area, which includes the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, LapuLapu and Talisay, and the municipalities of Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela and Cordova,” she added.

MCWD earlier said over extraction, nitrate contamination and saltwater intrusion contributed to the depletion and shut down of a number of water sources.