The Puerto Princesa City Water District (PPCWD) said placing the whole city under a Water Crisis Alert Level 3 is possible anytime this month due to the drastic depletion of water in its main Campo Uno source in Barangay Irawan.
“All of our pumping stations are operational as of the moment with the threat of experiencing break suction, while our Campo Uno Source or Irawan River’s production capacity has reduced to 110 cubic meters per hour, relatively lower from its average production capacity of 700-750 cubic meters per hour,” the water firm posted on its Facebook page.
Jenn Rausa, acting information officer of the PPCWD, said Monday that the production capacity of Campo Uno maintained the 110 cubic meters per hour until Monday morning.
Rausa said the contingency committee will meet this week to discuss the declaration of an Alert Level 3.
The PPCWD is preparing contingency measures such as coordination with 52 private well owners that could be water sources when the supply becomes worst.
“Sakali man na mapag-usapan namin on Wednesday, baka ngayong April, next week or kasi as soon as possible sana kahit hindi na natin abutin ‘yong 50 cubic meter ng Campo Uno kung marami na reklamo na natatanggap at saka wala ng ibang mapagkunan pero marami pa naman kami na contingency measures na puwede pa gawin,” she said.
The PPCWD has already sent letters to their partner agencies to borrow additional trucks to support the current number of five lorry trucks injecting water in areas which have sent requests to their office, Rausa said.
The water district has received complaints about the lack of water supply in city proper areas particularly in Abad Santos Street, Manalo Extension, Barangay Liwanag, including the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) area, Liberty, a few reports from Bancao-Bancao, City Baywalk and Old Public Market.
Rausa encouraged residents to start storing water in their households because they will experience the drastic decrease of water supply once the Alert Level 3 is declared.
Water rationing will be implemented in Puerto Princesa City when the alert is officially declared.
