Deep wells in Cebu City are seen to be an alternative source of water, especially during the El Niño this summer 2019. | Photo courtesy of Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak
CEBU CITY, Philippines – The Cebu City is leaning on deep wells and artesian wells for additional water supply in the city following the diminishing supply of water from the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD).
According to Councilor Dave Tumulak, the chairperson for the committee on public order, there are over 1,000 wells in the city that can help with the water shortage.
Since March, the Department of Public Services (DPS) has been repairing at least five artesian wells per day with the help of the Cebu City Health, which is tasked to check if the water from the wells are potable.
Deep wells are being treated as well so they cna be used safely by the households.
“Ato na gipang-ayo atong mga atabay kay niingon naman gyod ang MCWD nga nagkuwang na og supply sa tubig. Kining mga atabay makatabang ni sa kakuwang sa atong supply,” said Tumulak.
(We are fixing our artesian wells because the MCWD already said that they have already have an insufficient water supply. These wells will help ease the supply.)
Tumulak said that aside from the repairs of the artesian wells, the residents who will be benefiting from the wells will be taught on how to make the water potable through proper chlorination.
He said that with over 200 wells they have repaired on March, all of these wells contained enough supply for the community around it.
“Wala gyod tay problema sa atong wells. Naa gyod gihapoy tubig. Ang problema lang nato kay kadtong naa sa bukid ug sa atong surface water parehas sa mga dam,”
(We don’t have any problems with our wells. They still have water. The problem is the supply for the uplands and the supply from the surface water sources such as the dams.)
Tumulak is hoping that they can finish fixing all the wells before the peak of the summer when the water supply is expected to be critical.
He urged the people to save as much water as they can and prepare for the worst in the coming weeks. /bmjo