Pagadian City initiates measures to increase water supply

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?&sid=6&pfn=748452&arch=1&go=Go&search_arch=Pagadian%20City,%20Zamboanga%20del%20Sur&andor=and&mdte_arch=3&ddte_arch=0&ydte_arch=2015

Engr. Edilberto Yorong, PCWD general manager

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, March 27 (PNA) –- The Pagadian City Water District (PCWD) is set to add four deep wells to augment this city’s water supply.

This, as the PCWD supply has gone down by 20 percent since there is a reduction of water production from its sources, which included eight deep wells and five springs.

Engr. Edilberto Yorong, PCWD general manager, said Friday that the drilling works for the two of the four deep wells will start after the observance of the Holy Week.

Yorong said the drilling works for the other two deep wells will follow upon completion of the first two wells.

Yorong said the water supply has gone down by 20 percent since the production of the two out of the eight deep wells have decreased by 40 liters per second from 95 liters to only 55 liters.

“We believe this is due to silt formation at the bottom of the wells that affects the flow of water and not because of the dry season since the other deep wells were not affected (by the drought),” Yorong said.

He said the water production of the five springs have been reduced by 10 percent brought about by the dry season.

Meanwhile, Yorong said they have applied a PHP25-million loan to acquire power generators to ensure that all concessionaires will have round-the-clock water supply.

Several concessionaires don’t have water on their taps since this city is experiencing eight-hour daily brownouts.

The PCWD maintains 22 pumping stations to supply water to the concessionaires since this city has hilly terrain even in downtown area.

The pumping station pump water from PCWD’s sources to the distribution pipelines through the reservoirs. The water firm maintains 20 reservoirs.

The cause of the eight-hour daily brownout is the reduced power of the Mindanao grid brought about by low water level at Lake Lanao where the hydroelectric plants are located. (PNA)
LAP/TPGJR/HIROHITO D. CADION