People of Puerto Princesa are now experiencing low water pressure in their faucets, which leads to no water at all in some areas, mostly in the City proper particularly during peak hours of water use.
Puerto Princesa City Water District Spokesperson Jenn Rausa admitted to Palawan Daily News that the said situation is true since the main source of the water supply of the City in Kampo Uno has reached its lowest level of drought downstream in Irawan watershed.
“Pagpasok po ng January, yung source sa ilog ng Irawan, natutuyo na. ‘Di na sya nakakapag-operate dahil tuyo na, kaya yung sa bayan lalo na yung sa mataas na area hirap na abutin especially sa peak hours na mataas ang consumption,” Rausa said.
Even the other sources of water in the City is also experiencing droughts due to zero rainfall in the past weeks.
Water District is strictly monitoring the pumping station in Manalo – Lacao Streets that as of today, January 29, recorded a 0.23 pound per square inch (PSI) level of water. This is for a fact that it is operating 24 hours daily to augment the shortage.
Rausa said that the only hope of the City, for now, is the rain that can help regain the water supply and the possible solution they are working now is cloud seeding operation that could happen this February.
“Naka rely tayo sa ulan. May ginagawa pa rin tayo na ibang solution like yung sources sa Montible at Lapu-Lapu. Nakalatag na rin tayo ng transmission line para dun pero may kunti pa kaming inaayos,” Rausa explained.
The said project according to Rausa started August of last year and they target to finish it by 2021.
Other possible water sources they could get for now is by renting some private wells that can deliver or inject water supply to other areas in the City.
“Sa mga consumers natin, nakukuha namin yung mga complaint nyo basta i-report nyo lang sa opisina or sa page naming. Agad naman namin pinapapuntahan, ini-injekan ng tubig. Inuuna lang namin yung mga nauna mag complain,” Rausa said.
Water bill rebates in this situation are possible according to Rausa. In the past, they already did the same in Brgy. Luzviminda depending on split minimum. This is now being processed by the Water District and will undergo validation and approval by their Board.