With water supply depleting at Campo Uno dam, the Puerto Princesa City Water District (PPCWD) is now preparing for water rationing, especially in barangays located in elevated areas.
Jenn Rausa, PPCWD acting information officer, said Thursday that if the situation worsens, they will elevate the water crisis status in the city to Water Alert Level II.
“Hindi siya nagbago, hindi siya nagtaas, ngayon nasa 156 cubic meters kasi fluctuating nga ‘yong water level natin so sa flow rate kami bumabase. ‘Yong tubig natin hangga’t hindi pa umuulan, hindi siya mag-i-improve tapos kung tuloy-tuloy pa ang init, bababa pa ‘yong supply natin. Ngayong March daw ang pasok ng El Niño, inaasahan na rin na magkakaroon tayo ng water rationing,” she said.
Rausa said the water flow rate decreased to 260 cubic meters per hour in the past few days, but it increased to 350 as of 8:00 in the morning of February 28.
The water level in Campo Uno is currently fluctuating between the range 140 to 156 cubic meters.
Rausa said the water rationing scheme might be scheduled for 12 hours as part of their contingency plan, but may vary depending on the complaints they will receive.
“’Yong usual na part ng contingency plan ‘yong 12-12 scheme. Itong 12 hours-12 hours pero mag-de-depende pa rin sa matatanggap naming complaints kung alin ‘yong mga area na ma-i-identify namin na part,” she added.
Rausa said the PPCWD contingency committee will meet next week to discuss the actions the water firm to address the water supply problem of the city.
She assured the public that they will issue a public advisory as soon as a decision is made. The last time that a water rationing was implemented was in 2016 because of the El Niño.
Rausa also appealed for public cooperation by saving water because of the shortage.
“Pababa pa rin talaga nang pababa ang supply ng tubig natin so sa mga parating na araw ay makaka-experience tayo ng kakulangan. ‘Yong mga pumping stations natin gumagana pa, ‘yong mga lorry trucks ay ready mag-inject ng water every time. ‘Yong updated na meeting ng ating contingency committee, asahan na ‘yong pag-disseminate namin ng information ay mas intensive pa lalo na pagbaba natin sa level 2,” she said.
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