By Nestor P. Burgos Jr.
Inquirer Visayas
The Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) started on Saturday an indefinite rationing of water to customers in this city and six neighboring towns due to the continued drying up of water sources brought about by the prolonged dry spell.
The water supply in many areas served by the MIWD has been limited to only up to six hours daily. In some areas, water is available for eight a day three times a week.
MIWD provides around one million cubic meters of water to around 33,000 customers in Iloilo City and the towns of Oton, Pavia, Sta. Barbara, Cabatuan, Maasin and San Miguel.
Its main water source is the Tigum River through an intake dam in Barangay Daja in Maasin town, 29.5 km northwest of Iloilo City. It also obtains water from deep wells in Oton and San Miguel.
MIWD general manager Le Jayme Jalbuena said water from the Tigum River and the deep wells has been significantly reduced due to the El Niño phenomenon, which is characterized by extreme climatic changes including drought.
Jalbuena said the MIWD normally supplies an average of 28,000 to 30,000 cubic meters daily. But it was able to supply only 28,000 cubic meters on February 14 and 21,000 cubic meters on February 15 or a drop of 25 to 30 percent.
“We have to implement the scheduling of supply to our consumers to accumulate water in our stations,†Jalbuena said.
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