BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – Metro Pacific Iloilo Water (MPIW) moves to ensure that water being rationed to residents here affected by the El Niño-phenomenon-induced drought will have a safe and reliable supply.
The water distribution firm announced the temporary shutting down of one of its bulk water supplier’s water treatment plants in Maasin, Iloilo from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. to allow its system to recover and ensure water supply build-up.
In a statement, the MPIW said it deployed personnel to help their partners conduct bacteriological and residual chlorine tests to ensure that water supplies are safe before distributing them to the affected villages in Iloilo City.
The water utility facilitated the water supply distribution, water tanker disinfection, and water quality testing of all water being deployed in the communities by designated water tankers used by volunteers from the Iloilo Citizens Action Group Inc. (ICAG) and the Federation of Fire.
“ICAG and Metro Pacific Iloilo Water guarantee that the water distributed by our partners successfully undergoes the bacteriological test and residual chlorine test, adhering meticulously to the Philippine National Standards for drinking water,” said MPIW.
In its latest advisory, MPIW reported that its raw water sources such as the Tigum River have decreased significantly due to the scorching heat caused by the El Niño phenomenon.
“With this, one of our bulk water supplier’s water supply productions is affected. During the shutdown, customers in the areas below will experience low water pressure to no water supply,” the water utility firm said.
Likewise, MPIW warned that water levels in the four main raw water sources – Aganan River, Maasin Weir, Jalaur River, and Tigum River – are “plummeting at an alarming rate.”
“The prolonged dry spell and rising temperatures have led to reduced bulk water production. Consequently, our bulk water suppliers are only able to deliver an average of 60 MLD to MPIW, way below the critical level threshold,” the MPIW stressed.
As of May 2, the water utility firm said that water level at the Maasin Dam, its primary water source, has decreased to 93.66 meters above sea level (MASL).
Such water level is considered “alarming” because it is close to the critical mark of 93.60 MASL.
It also confirmed that the total bulk water supply has reduced to 57.142 million liters per day (MLD), which is 13 MLD below the usual supply rate and 7 MLD under the critical level of 65 MLD.
MPIW has started rationing water in certain areas in Iloilo City and nearby towns amid the dry spell caused by the El Niño phenomenon on March 20./PN
