MCWD shifts to surface water sources
To ease the burden from groundwater sources, the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) is shifting to surface water sources.
MCWD’s dependence on groundwater sources will substantially decrease with the entry into its pipelines of water coming from surface water sources.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has issued warnings on saltwater intrusion going all the way to Talamban, Cebu City if the unchecked extraction of groundwater continues, said Ernie Delco, the agency’s assistant general manager for operations.
“We are shifting to surface water to lighten the stress on groundwater. We started last year since there was a board resolution that there will be no more additional groundwater development,” Delco said.
The growing concern over groundwater extraction is not caused by MCWD, said Delco as he urged private entities to control groundwater extraction. He said most private extractors are unable to monitor how much they have extracted because most of them don’t have flow meters.
MCWD has a tripartite agreement with the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) and local government units to help shift to surface water sources and mitigate the effects of saltwater intrusion.
Delco said they are now entertaining surface water contracts, one of which is the Carmen river which provides 35,000 cubic meters daily.
“This is from a river. This could have flown into the sea if we didn’t tap it,” Delco said.
Aside from Carmen, MCWD is also negotiating with Danao and Nivel Hills to provide surface water.
“We will be having an injection point in Nivel (Lahug). We will bid it this year so a year or so from now, we can have another 35,000 cubic meters of surface water,” Delco said.
He added that Danao is also offering 20,000 cubic meters of surface water from Tangon River.
The MCWD has completed monitoring commercial and domestic wells in the cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue.
“Mactan has 35 large or commercial wells and 15,000 domestic wells. These domestic wells have to register at NWRB, no permit needed,” Delco revealed.
Mandaue has 1,200 large commercial wells. Next in their inventory of wells are Cebu and Talisay cities.
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