More areas to suffer as Jaclupan dries up

CEBU, Philippines — Jaclupan Dam’s infiltration basin, where water from the sedimentation basin is filtered, in Talisay City has totally dried up due to the mild El Niño.

Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) spokesperson Charmaine Rodriquez-Kara said the dam’s daily production has reduced to 10,000 cubic meters from 33,000 cubic meters.

The remaining water stored at the dam’s sedimentation basin, which is the catchment that stores and collects water from Mananga River, would reportedly last until next month.

Kara said the situation has affected residents in the cities of Cebu and Talisay.

The interior and elevated portions of Talisay City; and Barangays Bulacao, Inayawan, Cogon Pardo, Kinasang-an, Basak San Nicolas, Basak Pardo, Mambaling, Sawang Calero, Suba, Pasil, San Nicolas Proper, Pahina Central, Kalubihan, Kamputhaw, Sto. Niño, Pari-an, San Roque, Tinago, Kamagayan, Tejero, T. Padilla, Tisa, Punta Princesa, Labangon, Guadalupe, Capitol Site, Calamba, and Sta. Cruz in Cebu City are expected to experience shorter water service hours.

Kara said the areas used to have five to three service hours per day, but starting this week may only experience one to two hours.

She said the water district continues rationing water to affected barangays with the help of the city government, the barangays and the Bureau of Fire Protection.

She said MCWD is continuously in search for other water sources to address the needs of its consumers.

“The water district is actively looking for new sources as well as talking to its private bulk suppliers to increase their supply to MCWD to cover the deficit,” the statement read.

Moreover, Kara said all of MCWD’s water sources —surface water sources, groundwater wells and bulk supply from private suppliers— produced 213,000 cubic meters as of yesterday or 25,000 cubic meters short of its original daily production of 238,000 cubic meters. (FREEMAN)