ZAMBOANGA CITY: Officials of the Zamboanga
City Water District (ZCWD) stated they want to give good water service to their
consumers but are powerless against the existing problem of water insufficiency.
Assistant General Manager for
Administration John Taula, in telling councilors during the last session, believed
this problem can be solved by relying on giant corporations from Manila for help.
The local water district is
reportedly coming to grips with problems on water turbidity, high systems loss and
lack of water sources.
Last March, ZCWD initiated a water
rationing scheme after it experienced low water pressure due to water shortage
that affected the water company’s three divided districts.
Taula attributed the present problem
to the “harsh effects of nature” which causes water turbidity.
Water turbidity is the cloudiness caused
by particles that are generally invisible to the naked eye, similar to smoke in
air. This is said to be a key test of water quality.
Taula said that for now, consumers
are requested to reduce water consumption as for their part, they will make efficient
water distribution to all.
He also disclosed that their plants
generating water supply is falling short of its capacity by almost 50 percent.
Aside from this, the Local Water
District is also confronted with systems loss caused by illegal water
connections and faulty and leaking water pipes.
Although ZCWD is at present is putting
into action the rehabilitation of its water pipes, Taula said only about 8
kilometers out of 30 kilometers of water pipelines have been improved so far.
A new company specializing in water
distribution called Prime Water is at present catering up to 50,000 patrons and
is seen by ZCWD as a transitory solution to their problem.