THE Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) has allayed fears of widespread shortage of potable water in the provinces, saying that available sources and supply are enough to sustain consumers' needs even in the face of an extended dry spell caused by the EI Nino phenomenon.

But in the same vein, LWUA asked the consumers to exercise proper use and conservation of water stressing that it is not an inexhaustible natural resource and that water is now regarded as a basic commodity that has economic value.

LWUA Board Chairman Prospero A. Pichay Jr., in a recent radio interview, said the people in the provinces particularly those served by the local water districts need not worry about potable water shortage. Water supply productions are still more than sufficient to meet the demands and that there are still locally-available water sources which can be tapped. "We are still urging the public to conserve water, though," Pichay added.

Pichay said LWUA in response to the directive of President Arroyo is fasttracking the completion of numerous water supply improvement and expansion projects to ensure sufficiency during the El Nino episode which is projected to last until May or June.

Meanwhile, sources from the agency said that in the extreme event of water supply shortfall on account of decreasing yield of current sources, some water districts have standby sources which they can activate to fill up the deficit. The others can develop additional or augmentation water sources with LWUA's financial and technical assistance.

Unlike Metro Manila which is highly dependent on the surface water source of Angat Dam, water districts in the provinces are mostly utilizing groundwater sources such as springs, shallow and deep wells which are not as susceptible to the adverse effects of El Nino. Pichay expressed his view that MWSS must consider the development of another water source for Metro Manila preferably the proposed Laiban Dam in Rizal province.

PAGASA earlier raised the alert on possible water supply shortages in view of the deficient rainfall received by many parts of the country that could be worsened by the prolonged dry spell as a result of EI Nino. LWUA has issued a memo circular to all water districts directing them to prepare, update and implement their respective action plans to mitigate the effects of EI Nino. (People's Journal Tonight, February 8, 2010)

February 08 , 2010