THE Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) purchased generator sets to ensure that pumping stations will continue to run in case of power failure during typhoon Yolanda.
The contingency can provide for half of its service area.
Since water service disruption during the storm is possible, households were advised to store water that could last for three days.
For drinking water, containers should be clean and have covers.
During 1990’s supertyphoon Ruping, Cebu power lines toppled, leaving the island without power and running water for almost three weeks.
With more time to prepare, the water utility is in a better position now to weather the storm.
“MCWD’s groundwater wells which make up 95 percent of its water supply are dependent on power,” said Charmaine Rodriguez, MCWD public affairs department manager.
“MCWD also prepared gensets to ensure the immediate resumption of water supply in 50 percent of its service area. MCWD emergency teams have been activated to respond to the water needs of its consumers,” said Rodriguez
MCWD covers the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Talisay and the towns of Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion and Cordova.
MCWD also assisted the Visayan Electric Company (Veco) in clearing tree branches from power lines to minimize the incidence of brownouts.
Technical teams are also on standby to respond to incidents of line breakage and other damage og their pipelines during the super storm.
MCWD provides water to around 140,000 households in its service areawith average daily production of around 200,000 cubic meters per day.