As the world celebrated Earth Day on April 22, the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) called on the public to do their share in taking care of the environment.
MCWD general manager Ernie Delco said the water district is adopting measures to protect the environment and Metro Cebu’s water supply.
MCWD started to shift from groundwater to surface water sources.
Among its surface water sources are the Cebu Manila Water Development (CMWD) Inc. which gets water from a river in Carmen town, as well as an upcoming bulk water supply contract with Danao City.
CMWD now supplies 18,000 cubic meters of water a day to MCWD while Danao City is expected to start supplying to MCWD by 2017.
MCWD will also develop another surface water source in Cebu City’s mountain barangays which will be operational by the third quarter of next year.
A feasibility study by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on MCWD’s groundwater sources showed that saltwater intrusion is projected to reach inland to as far as barangay Talamban in Cebu City in 2030.
To protect groundwater sources, MCWD entered into a tripartite agreement with local government units and the National Water Resources Board to monitor ground water extraction. Delco assured that MCWD will monitor its extraction so as not to over extract water from the aquifer.
To protect the quality of ground water, MCWD will be implementing a septage management program in which the water district will regularly desludge the septic tanks of consumers within its service area and treat the wastes.
Another continuing initiative of the water district is watershed management.
MCWD entered into an agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas for the restoration of riparian zones in Central Cebu river basins.
The water district earmarked P11.4 million for the project.
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