Desalination plant to solve water crisis

CEBU, Philippines — A desalination plant in Mactan is seen to address the recurring water crisis in Metro Cebu, says the general manager of Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) during an executive session of the Cebu City Council.

Water district officials were summoned by the City Council to shed light on the water supply problem in the city.

MCWD general manager Jose Eugenio Singson, Jr. said the water utility firm is putting up a desalination plant in Mactan. Singson said the plant, which is expected to be completed by 2022, will address the water shortage in Metro Cebu during El Niño.

He explained that MCWD is bringing 30,000 cubic meters of water supply daily from Carmen to Mactan which could be saved with the desalination plant. Instead of bringing the Carmen production to Mactan, the supply could be used in other parts of Metro Cebu. As soon as the plant is operational, Mactan Island will have its own source of water supply. 

Desalination is a process of removing the salt from the seawater to make it potable.

Mactan has a total demand of 80,000 cubic meters daily but MCWD is only able to supply 30, 000 cubic meters.

“We are expecting to award it within the year, the construction phase moabot two to three years so by 2022 tingali maka full stream na,” Singson said.

Singson added that the water district is also developing the Mananga Dam into another source of water. He said they are bidding out the P6.5 billion project after the elections through Public-Private Partnership (PPP). According to Singson, three contractors have already showed interest to undertake the project.

Singson added that they are also taking into consideration the suggestion made by Councilor Gerry Guardo to develop the Lusaran Dam as another possible source.

The MCWD is also expecting additional volume of 5,000 cubic meters per day from the Danao City Bulk Supply Project and another 11,000 cubic meters from three new wells.

Councilors Jocelyn Pesquera and Joel Garganera see the need to put up water reservoir or rainwater catchment facilities to help increase MCWD’s capability to store rainwater. Singson promised to look into the suggestion.

Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) president Franklyn Ong also recommended for MCWD to conduct massive advocacy campaign, informing the public about the need to ensure their septic tanks do not contaminate the aquifer. — FPL (FREEMAN)