Water woes: COWD station down again

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent .

THREE more booster pumps of the Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD) bogged down at its pumping station in Balulang, the Gold Star Daily learned yesterday.

This was confirmed by Engr. Elezar Linaac, COWD assistant general manager for  technical services, as he explained the reason why the water supply has not improved this week in many western areas being served by the water district.

Linaac said consumers in the elevated areas in the western parts of the city and in Opol town, Misamis Oriental have continued to be inconvenienced as a result of low water pressure.

There are however areas, such as in Opol town, where consumers have not seen tap water for ar least two weeks now.

Linaac said three more boosting pumps at the COWD’s Balulang station bogged down on Sunday as they completed work on damaged pumps.

Last week, COWD spokesperson Ladelle Sagrado said, “Na-ay water pumping station nato diha sa Balulang nga imbis tulo ka water pumps ang nag-andar, apan kay nada-ot man, na-ay duha nalang ang nag-andar karon.”

The boosters are what pump water into a COWD reservoir in Balulang.

The problem with the pumps referred to by Sagrado have been fixed but COWD suffered another setback on Sunday when three more bogged down. The pumps are what bring treated water from the Balulang station to COWD’s reservoir in Barangay Carmen.

It was the second time this month that COWD’s booster pumps were damaged.

Linaac said repairs are ongoing and are expected to be completed today.

But he said even if the Balulang pumping station’s capacity is restored to 100 percent, the water supply in the western areas would still be insufficient unless the Cagayan de Oro Bulk Water Inc. (Cobi) increases its daily delivery to COWD from 40 thousand to 60 thousand cubic meters.