BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – Mayor Jerry Treñas is considering placing the city in a state of calamity to mobilize resources and support to address the water shortage in the metropolis.
He will meet with the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) to discuss a plan to purchase water from the Metro Pacific Iloilo Water (MPIW) and Balibago Waterworks System, Inc. for delivery to barangays that do not have water.
Treñas said he is also coordinating with MPIW and the Balibago Waterworks about placing the city in a state of calamity.
The CDRRMC earlier announced it would not yet recommend declaring a state of calamity.
Instead, it pushed for an intensified risk management of the ill-effects of El Niño, especially on water supply.
“Though the affected population in the city reached the required number for the declaration, the situation on the ground is still manageable,” said Engr. Neil Ravena, head of the General Services Office (GSO) and also the CDRRMC Logistics Cluster head.
The council cited the climate and disaster risk assessment (CDRA) conducted by the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) on 25 barangays severely affected by drought.
The survey showed residents have several mechanisms to cope with the reduced water supply.
Several households also stock water supply from sources provided by Metro Pacific Iloilo Water (MPIW) and from their wells.
The council recommended prioritizing “highly vulnerable” villages in water rationing, deployment of water tanks, and community advocacy on water conservation and management or sharing of the resources.
The council also recommended purchasing additional water tanks and the construction of a rainwater harvesting facility.
The prevailing hot weather has triggered below-normal rainfall that resulted in the rapid decline of the water level in the Maasin Dam, the main raw water source of the water utility.
The MPIW had said the water level in Maasin Dam has decreased to 93.79 meters above sea level (ASL) from 93.80 meters due to extreme heat triggered by the El Niño phenomenon.
Despite the decrease, the water utility firm stressed the water is still “above the critical level.
Although the water supply production level has decreased to 67.159 million liters per day (MLD) from 70.540 million liters per day, the water supply remains “above the critical level,” the water utility firm stressed.
“Due to the continued effects of El Niño, the water level in Maasin Dam is decreasing rapidly. The prolonged dry spell and rising temperature have led to reduced bulk water production,” MPIW said in a statement.
Marie Joy Josue, MPIW corporate affairs and communications manager, said that state weather Pag-asa projects no rainfall within this week which could have helped restock the water in the Maasin Dam.
“We appeal to our consumers to utilize their water supply responsibly,” Josue had told Panay News.
The water utility company earlier announced it is on “heightened alert” after the water level in Maasin Dam continues to decline rapidly.
The water utility remains on heightened alert despite the additional 10 million liters per day from one of its bulk water suppliers, said Josue. Hence, the water supplies under the service areas of MIWD remain in “good condition.”
With the water demand during the drought spell, MPIW said the additional water supply from its bulk suppliers will help stabilize the water supply production to an average of 70-73 million liters per day for its 48,000 service connections.
The water utility’s bulk water suppliers source their raw water from the Tigum, Jalaur, and Againan Rivers.
MPIW has allocated about P1 billion for the renewal and rehabilitation of its pipe networks under its service areas.
The pipe upgrades and rehabilitation will reduce water losses due to leaks, hence, an increase in water supply for consumers, Josue stressed.
Pipe leaks, if not repaired, cause water losses, resulting in low water pressure and service water interruptions across the city.
These leakages occur due to many factors, such as age and location of the pipe, rapid temperature changes, high water pressure, clogged lines, ground and soil movement, and loose water connectors or broken pipes./PN
