ZAMBOANGA CITY — Water crisis looms but Zamboanga City Water District (ZCWD) this early is preparing the raiotning plan for their consumers.
The consumers may face water shortages again in the coming months as the city’s water supply dwindles and the city experiences less rain.
The ZCWD said that consumers could experience water supply reduction to no water at all as they will implement water rationing. The ZCWD serves 62 of the city’s 92 barangays.
The water firm in January 2023, reported more than 185,000 service connections within the city.
ZCWD General Manager Michael Angelo Carbon said that water rationing is dependent on water supply. One of ZCWD’s water sources is the Pasonanca reservoir which is currently 74.12 meters above sea level while water treatment plant sources water from the Tumaga River.
“The normal level is 74.20. When the water level reaches 74.8, there is a high possibility that we will have water rationing,” Carbon said.
Carbon added that in previous experiences of the water level reaching 74.8, there was a 10 percent reduction in water supply.
“When the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Administration (Pagasa) issued a prognosis, if I got it right, if there is El Niño, we have a possibility of rationing,” Carbon said.
Based on the climate outlook of the Pagasa in Mindanao, El Niño may take place after June or during the latter half of 2023.
In a press briefing in January 2023, in Davao City, Pagasa-Davao chief Meteorological Officer Lolit Vilanay said that if there is an El Niño (during that time), there will be less rain and higher temperatures.
ZCWD’s bulk water supplier Prime Water Infrastructure Corporation may also be affected by fewer water sources as it was experienced in February 2022 when its supplies dropped by 24 percent and could only provide 38 million liters per day (MLD).
“As we have experienced last year, 60-70 percent of our area experienced water rationing. There may be areas where there will be no water for 24 hours,” Carbon said.
Carbon urged consumers that as early as now to make their homes resilient and prepare clean storage bins.
“The requirement is that it should last for 24 hours. the rationing will be on an every-other-day basis,” Carbon said.
Zamboanga City Mayor John Dalipe attributed the lack of rain to climate change.
“In January, we have six times more rainfall. There is too much rain and then a lack of water, so we need to prepare, as the LGU (local government unit) is also preparing,” Dalipe said.
Dalipe said that the city government is studying the construction of dams to store water during the rainy season.-Rodolfo Tubilag Jr.
