Talisay vice Mayor: Laws needed to control ground water extraction

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante warned of eventual underground water depletion if measures are not put in place to control the extraction of ground water in the city.

In a committee hearing on the proposal of City Councilor Aldin Diaz to allow Helpmate Inc. to develop and operate a water system in the city in response to the water supply problem, Villarante pointed out that it is important for the city to regulate the extraction of underground water to mitigate depletion.

Under the Local Government Code, local government units have the authority to protect the purity and quantity of the water supply and regulate its consumption against the unregulated extraction of ground water, which not only dries up scarce water sources, but also endangers the environment.

In his proposed Resolution No. 2014-19-11, Diaz said Helpmate Inc. is offering to supply water to residents at minimal cost and has submitted a proposal in order to develop a public water supply system in the barangays of Biasong, Dumlog, Mohon and Pooc.

"We agree that no extraction will take place, only pipe laying," Villarante said the other day after their meeting with the committee on social services, which is chaired by Councilor Socrates Fernandez.

Villarante said groundwater extraction will induce a rapid flow of seawater to the freshwater aquifer thereby decreasing the amount of fresh water which naturally flows out to the sea and subsequently affects the water's taste and quality.

But Villarante said it would be best that they solicit an opinion from the expert regarding the possible impact on ground water extraction.

Among the possibility of surface water utilization is that of Candulawan River, Villarante said.

The Metropolitan Water District produces 204,000 cubic meters of water daily for its 160,000 water accounts.

Of that supply, 164,00 cubic meters come from groundwater sources or an equivalent of 80 percent, while 40,000 cubic meters come from surface water sources.

The MCWD is drawing 33,000 to 35,000 cubic meters of water per day from 15 wells in Talisay. (FREEMAN)