Nearly half of COWD east service area still suffering water woes

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent

PEOPLE in nearly 50 percent of the eastern part of the Cagayan de Oro Water District’s service area are still suffering from a water crisis as a result of the damages caused by last week’s floodings to the firm’s facilities.

COWD assistant general manager Benvienido Batar said seven of the firm’s 29 production wells sustained damages the day tropical storm “Vinta” made landfall in Mindanao, and repairs were being made.

Five of the damaged production wells are in Macasandig while two others are in Balulang, the reason why the water supply in downtown Cagayan de Oro, including the city hall area, Divisoria, Burgos Street, Consolacion, Puntod, Macabalan, Lapasan, parts of Gusa, Camaman-an and Macasandig became problematic.

Ladelle Sagrado, COWD spokesperson,  two of the damaged production wells were commissioned back and were undergoing flushing and disinfection on Wednesday.

Sagrado said the water is starting to be available in some of the affected areas although intermittent and very low in pressure.

She said the COWD is expecting to commission back more production wells within the next few days.

Two production wells in Canitoan were left available, and COWD used these to supply water to Carmen, Patag, Kauswagan, Bonbon, Bayabas, Bulua, Iponan up to Opol town. The water from these wells come from Rio Verde Water Consortium.

“Na-a man gihapoy nada-ot sa water facilities sa Rio Verde pero na-ayo ra man nila dayon, mao tong naka-supply pa gihapon sila  ug tubig sa western area,” Batar said.

Still, the water supply in the western areas remained insufficient because of the damaged COWD production well in Balulang which is being used to beef up the Rio Verde supply.

The COWD facilities in Tablon and Bugo were unaffected which is why the water supply  in barangays Bugo, Puerto, Agusan, Cugman up to some parts of Gusa was not disrupted.