ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews / 26 March) – The Zamboanga City Water District (ZCWD) has adopted a new rationing scheme as water inflow at the source has considerably slowed down the past two weeks.
The new rationing scheme, which was shortened by one hour from the previous of seven hours, took effect at 5 a.m. Wednesday.
Engr. Teotimo Reyes Jr., ZCWD production head, said they adopted the new rationing scheme as the inflow at the source has greatly decreased since the water rationing plan was implemented starting last March 3.
At that time, Reyes said the water level at the ZCWD’s diversion dam stood at 74.10 meters, which was slightly lower than the normal level of 74.20 meters.
Reyes said the latest water level was measured at 73.89 meters.
The ZCWD’s pipeline network was divided into three areas – west, central and east – with corresponding schedules of water rationing.
The new water rationing scheme involves a modification in the schedule of the central district, which now has water starting at 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. from the previous 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
The schedules for the eastern and western districts remained the same with the eastern area getting first crack at water from 5 a.m. until 11 a.m. while the western area gets its water from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m.
Engr. Efren Salvacion, maintenance division chief and in charge of the water rationing scheme, said the schedule has to be revised as heavier than usual water usage was experienced in the central district and this city’s eastern area.
Salvacion disclosed those that don’t get water into their taps will have to be supplied by water tankers of the ZCWD.
Salvacion said they have seven units of water tankers. Six of the seven units are of 10 cubic meters (cu. m.) capacity while the remaining one has 6-cu. m. capacity.
The new water rationing scheme was the second revision the ZCWD has adopted since it started the implementation of rationing last March 3 that only covered the western area from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. and the eastern area from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The concessionaires at the central area at that time experienced low water pressure although they enjoyed 24-hour water supply.
The first revision made was last March 12 wherein all areas have seven hours of water each day.
Meanwhile, Salvacion said monitoring teams have been mobilized to observe water service in key areas of this city while repair crews are dispatched to plug leaks in the barangays.
