Consumers warned: Rotational brownout to affect water supply

Local

A ONE to two-hour rotational brownout can leave some Metro Cebu households without normal water pressure for several more hours.

This is because the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) needs additional time to restore water flow after its wells lose power.

In an interview on Thursday, Sept. 17, Minerva Gerodias, MCWD spokesperson, said the impact of power interruptions depends on households' location and their proximity to the wells supplying their areas.

While VECO’s power interruption advisories typically indicate outages of up to two hours, Gerodias said this does not mean water service will return immediately once electricity comes back.

“Bisan og one hour lang ang brownout, maulian ang water supply, mo-take pa siya'g mga three hours, four hours, depende sa gilay-on sa lugar,” Gerodias said.

She explained that when a well stops pumping, water remaining in the distribution line can eventually run out. Once electricity returns, the pumps must resume operation and rebuild pressure throughout the network.

Unlike electricity, which can reach consumers almost immediately once restored, water takes time to refill depleted lines and build sufficient pressure.

Gerodias said households near the wells may regain water pressure within about one to two hours, while those in elevated locations and at the far ends of distribution lines may wait four to five hours.

The wider impact is also linked to the scale of the current rotational brownouts.

The latest advisory, covering Sept. 15 to 20, lists affected areas in parts of Cebu City, Consolacion, Liloan, Mandaue City and Talisay. Gerodias said the water district's service area stretches from Compostela toward Liloan and Talisay, with more than 100 wells spread across Metro Cebu.

“Every time naa'y brownout, mao naman gyud ni mahitabo. The difference lang karon is daghan ang areas na affected,” she said.

MCWD has only one well with a built-in generator set, located in Jaclupan. Most of its other generators are stored at its Talamban facility and require mobilization to affected sites.

Gerodias said equipping all wells with dedicated generators is not financially practical, citing the number of wells, maintenance requirements, and the need for suitable generator houses.

For prolonged power interruptions, MCWD has generator sets available for deployment and nine water trucks on standby for affected areas.

Gerodias urged consumers to store water and conserve their supply.

She noted that MCWD does not control when or where power interruptions occur.

MCWD also continues to receive VECO's schedules, which means the Sept. 20 advisory does not necessarily establish when rotational brownouts will end.

“Mag-store lang og water para to be ready anytime nga mag-power service interruption ta,” Gerodias said.(TGP)