BRACING FOR EL NIÑO: Cebu checking old pipelines, exploring new water sources

Local

THE Cebu provincial government is assessing outdated water pipelines and potential new water sources as it prepares for the projected El Niño, which could worsen water shortages during prolonged dry conditions.

Engr. Aldrin Barade, head of the Cebu Provincial Inter-LGU Waterworks Systems Office (CPIWSO), said some local government units (LGUs) may need to upgrade their existing infrastructure to keep up with growing populations and increasing water demand.

Developing new water systems could take one to two years, particularly for projects serving entire municipalities or multiple LGUs, as these require additional technical studies.

Smaller community-level projects could be completed sooner through storage tanks, smaller pipelines and impounding structures.

Larger systems may require source development, storage facilities, extensive pipelines, treatment plants and pumps, depending on the water source.

However, the province must first determine how much water its existing and potential sources can provide before deciding which projects to prioritize.

“Need pa gyud ta og more data,” Barade said, explaining that the province continues to consolidate information on rivers, springs and other sources to assess their availability and actual yield.

The CPIWSO is validating potential sources reported to Gov. Pamela Baricuatro’s team during her visits to different LGUs.

Barade said the office would continue collecting information as more sources emerge.

“Continuing ni siya nga inventory, kutub sa naay mo-provide og information,” he said.

The assessment considers each source’s elevation, water quality and available volume to determine whether it can support domestic water supply, irrigation or impounding projects.

Initial findings have identified rivers and other surface water sources that could potentially supply several LGUs.

However, the office has yet to establish their actual yield and determine how much water they could reliably provide.

Barade said prolonged drought could reduce river flows because rainfall replenishes many of the province’s water sources.

“Isa na ni ang possible water shortage, kay ang source man gud sa atong water is rainfall. Kung walay ulan, labi na kung long droughts, so ang atong river walay supply sa water,” he said.

The provincial assessment comes as the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) prepares for the projected El Niño peak from December 2026 to June 2027 while addressing production losses caused by rotational brownouts.

MCWD Production and Distribution Department manager Engr. Rainier Quiñones said recurring two- to three-hour power interruptions over the past three to four months reduced the utility’s normal daily production of about 290,000 cubic meters to an average of 268,000 cubic meters.

Production has since recovered to around 272,000 to 273,000 cubic meters daily, but power interruptions continue to affect facilities in mainland Cebu, Mactan and parts of Consolacion, Compostela, Liloan, Talisay and Mandaue.

MCWD operates 169 pumping stations, but only some major facilities have backup generators.

The utility has asked Visayan Electric Co. and Mactan Electric Co. to spare its pumping stations from scheduled brownouts and provide earlier notice of power interruptions so it can adjust its operations.

The district also expects El Niño to affect surface water sources, including Mananga Dam and Buhisan River, more severely than its deep wells.

During the 2024 El Niño, MCWD’s daily production fell by about 40,000 to 50,000 cubic meters, dropping from its normal output of around 290,000 cubic meters to approximately 240,000 cubic meters at the peak.

To prepare for the coming dry period, MCWD plans to expand desalination, increase bulk water purchases, activate additional pumping stations and reduce water losses.

The measures are expected to provide or recover a combined 40,400 cubic meters of water daily.

Meanwhile, the Cebu provincial government currently operates water systems in Moalboal and Carmen.

Barade said both systems continue to meet demand because their sources can supply more water than the systems currently use.

“Sa karon, wala pa man siya giingon nga ubos. It's because dako ang source didto, and then gamay ra nga portion ang gi-gamit for water system, so enough ra gyud ang system namo,” he said.

Barade cautioned, however, that the situation in the two municipalities does not reflect the water supply conditions across Cebu, as the provincial inventory remains incomplete.

The CPIWSO aims to consolidate enough data by the end of the year to guide initial preparations for El Niño while supporting long-term water security planning.

Barade said provincial officials would also discuss water supply, agriculture and other related concerns during an upcoming interdepartmental meeting to identify priority infrastructure projects and interventions.(MyTVCebu)