Greater need to save water

The impending increase in the price of water supplied by the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) is enough cause for residents and barangay leaders to conserve water.

MCWD General Manager Armando Paredes said the company plans to increase water  rates  by 12 percent this July as they begin tapping bulk water from the Carmen River.

In the long run, sourcing surface water outside Metro Cebu gives overdrawn aquifers  a rest and is the only hope of meeting growing demands of Cebu’s fast-paced economy.

The good news for consumers is that the water district has committed, based on Paredes’ statement, to continue subsidizing the cost of water for thousands of households, who comprise 99 percent of their client base.

Otherwise, if MCWD were to reflect the full cost of purchasing water from the Cebu Manila WAter Development Corp., the  price increase would be much higher than the 12 percent MCWD had planned to implement seven years ago.

Still,  MCWD  clients will have to move wisely to cushion their wallets from the impact of the water price hike.

With summer almost here, the dry spell is  a good time  to build cisterns and  rainwater catchments to be ready to  collect rainfall.

The wise use of piped or pumped water requires knowing when to  prioritize it for drinking, and when to use “gray water” for washing cars, houses  and watering the garden.

We have long lamented the incapability of Cebu City to implement its  own ordinance that requires building owners to set up cisterns and storage tanks to collect water.
Perhaps the looming water price hike will ensure the cooperation of all.

Costlier water definitely puts a new twist to the adage “Water is life”.

But consumers have to face the fact that water is not a free  commodity and should be  ready to pay the cost of ensuring sustainable supply for generations to come.