The Metro Cebu Water District has started to deliver water to parts of Cebu City with low to no water pressure./CDN Digital File Photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines—Amid growing concerns over diminishing water supply here, Mactan Rock Industries Inc., has come up with suggestions on the use of surface and brackish water to replenish local supply.
Engineer Antonio Tompar, Mactan Rock president and chief executive officer, said that water from wells, specifically those that are located near the shorelines, could still be used with the help of a system which they developed.
“We can put up smaller brackish water system on each well and the water can be used immediately. These will generate between 1,000 to 2,000 cubic meters, which can serve between 2,000 to 4,000 household,” he explained.
Tompar
According to Tompar, their company will put up the system and sell the processed water to the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) at P25 per cubic meter, which is lower than the price of water sourced from the municipality of Carmen. He already discussed this proposal with the water district.
“The good thing about this (water) crisis is that people learn that we need a more reliable, sustainable water source,” Tompar said.
According to Tompar, Mactan Rock has used two rivers in the past, but these could no longer be used now because of pollution.
He also urged Cebuanos to stop throwing garbage and other pollutants into the rivers so these could be used as a potable water source.
Tompar maintained that surface water remains a cheaper potable water source.
In Bacolod and Iloilo, where the supply comes from surface water, the price of water ranges from P8 and P10 per cubic meter, respectively.
Tompar said that in the long term, Cebu has to also consider use of a mixed supply of desalination and surface water to address the Metro Cebu’s growing supply problem.
The pricing for a mixed water supply would have a single price, which would still be affordable, he added./dcb