MCWD desalination project underway

CEBU, Philippines — Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) chairman Jose Daluz III has disclosed that a desalination project is currently being processed.

He said that the project could benefit MCWD’s franchise area.

“Og moingon kag desalination, it will benefit the whole franchise kay we have already approved 7 desalination facility,” said Daluz.

Desalination is the process of removing salts or other minerals and contaminants from seawater, brackish water, and wastewater effluent and it is an increasingly common solution to obtain freshwater for human consumption and for domestic/industrial utilization.

Daluz earlier said Je Hydro and Bio-Energy Corp. can start its desalination project within 18 months after having submitted all the necessary documents.

“Ang challenge lang because it has to be reviewed sa national, sa OGCC (Office of the Government Corporate Counsel), and until now wala pa gyuy report. Pila na ka buwan. We could have started already the desalination, but we cannot start until ma-review sa OGCC,” said Daluz.

Daluz said this project will start 18 months from the Notice to Proceed which is still pending since there is no feedback yet from the OGCC.

“But this will be 200 MLD (million liters per day) of water. Karon, kahibawo ka pila ang atong production? It’s 230. Just imagine if we will have 210 MLD of water nga mosulod, it will be a very big factor sa improvement sa atong water supply,” said Daluz.

Since they are still waiting for the OGCC, Daluz said MCWD is now considering just having the project undergo public bidding instead.

He explained that if it will be through a bidding, it will no longer go through OGCC.

“Kaning bidding is just 60 days, so maka-Notice to Proceed na dayon ta,” said Daluz.

“Nindot ni siya nga project because kada municipality can also use the water. Hopefully, kaning mga proposals will have its progress and then we can proceed,” he added.

Daluz earlier said work by the contractor to build two reservoirs in Barangay Busay that will store the water sourced from Barangay Lusaran, estimated at 30 million liters per day (MLD), is ongoing.

The project had initially been expected to start benefiting 20,000 households this May.

Also pending OGCC approval is MCWD’s project with FDC Utilities Inc. which, in partnership with Hitachi Aqua-Tech Engineering Pte. Ltd., will put up desalination plants in Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu City to produce 30 MLD of water each, and in Talisay City to produce 20 MLD of water. — GMR (FREEMAN)