MCWD checking ‘miraculous’ water in Basak-Pardo

The water flowing beside a chapel in Barangay Basak-Pardo in Cebu City that many think is miraculous might just be coming from a leaking water pipe.

Charmaine Rodriguez Kara, corporate communications manager of the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD), said personnel of MCWD were sent to the area in Sitio Laguna last Friday night to look into the streaming water and trace possible leakage from the water district's pipes.

The personnel reportedly brought a water leak detention gadget but failed to use it because the place was so noisy owing to activities in line with the fiesta today.

Kara said the MCWD personnel did see people waiting in line to get water.

Samples were taken in bottles and were submitted for laboratory examination. Initial findings showed traces of chlorine, which means the water may just have come from a water pipe that is leaking and not from a natural source.

MCWD itself uses chlorine to ensure that its water is safe to drink.

"Naa gyud siya'y traces of chlorine according to our laboratory pero dili lang ta mo-conclude dayon nga MCWD ni kay basin baya og duna sab didto'y laing mga linya sa tubig nga gipanagiya og mga private persons nga treated sab og chlorine ang ilang water," Kara said.

She said their personnel will go back to the area next week to trace the leak and determine if it comes from MCWD's pipes.

Chapel officials headed by Jonie Reyes have discouraged people from drinking the water, but some residents have ignored the advice.

"Dili mopatuo ang uban. Moinom gyud kay nagtuo sila nga milagro gyud ang tubig nga mitubod kilid sa kapilya," said Tayox Limbaga, a resident of the place.

"May mga foreigner man sab gani nga miinom sa tubig nga gikan sa nagtubod kilid sa kapilya," Limbaga added.

A resident of Bogo City, Milagros Ortega, 55, contended there is nothing wrong in believing in miracle but she will only go so far as drowsing her knees with the water in the hope it can cure the pain.

"Walay mawala kanato kun motoo og milagro pero ibanyos ra nako ni ang tubig sa akong nagsakit nga tuhod," she said.

Basak-Barangay captain Yolandito Cagang also advised the people not to drink the water as it may be unsafe. Personnel of the Cebu City Medical Center have already visited the area.

Barangay Captain Yolandito Cagang has called on the Cebu City Health Department to test the water to see if it is safe for drinking.

He said the water may turn out unclean or contaminated, causing water-borne diseases and other related illnesses, his constituents' health might get affected.

One social media user commented, "kuyaw lang kun ang maong tubig nga nagtubod gikan na sa septic tanks nga nag-leak, makamugna gyud og sakit."