By Emmanuel D. Taghoy
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Zamboanga
City Water District (ZCWD) will likely to re-impose the water rationing this
week after the continuous receding of water level in the Pasonanca diversion
dam.
The water utility recorded a drop of the dam
level to 74.06 meters as of 3pm on July 10, way below the normal level of 74.20
meters needed water production level to sustain the water demand of the city
without rationing.
According to the data of ZCWD, it was on July
1 at 11am that a normal dam level was last recorded before it steadily decreased.
There has been little to no rain experienced at the watershed area recently to
increase the dam level.
ZCWD management had lifted the water rationing
last July 4 since the dam level had slowly stabilized due to the constant rain
in the months of May to June brought about by the Southwest Monsoon or “Habagat.”
However, the production department has stopped
its operation of the old reservoir because of insufficient water passing
through the 24” valve and the channel no longer supplies water as of 12MN of
July 10 for processing.
Based from the Philippine Atmospheric
Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s (PAGASA) projections,
Luzon and Visayas will experience below-normal to way-below-normal rainfall
conditions while significant portions of Mindanao are expected to have
near-normal to above rainfall conditions towards the second half of the year.
But this was not felt in the city.
ZCWD is continually monitoring the situation
and will announce within the week if water rationing will be re-imposed and the
rationing schedule that will be in effect.
In case the water rationing will be
re-imposed, ZCWD strongly urges the public to store water properly to avoid
contamination and continue to practice good hygiene and sanitation to minimize
health hazards.
To report any violation or for any concern,
please call ZCWD Customer Care Division @ 955 – 1007 to 1008; WTP 991 – 1553 to
1554 loc. 108 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
