WELLS in nearby villages have dried up allegedly due to the operation of a desalination plant that converts brackish water into potable water in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City.
Ed Karlon Rama, Cebu City Bantay Dagat Commission executive director, said on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, that residents of Barangays Mambaling and Basak Pardo, through their respective barangay councils, reported to the Coastline Management Board (CMB) about cases of existing wells drying up.
During the executive session on Wednesday, Nov. 27, there was also a mention of water wells drying up in Barangay San Nicolas.
According to Rama, who is also chairman of CMB, the water wells started to dry up only after the desalination plant of Pilipinas Water Resources Inc. (PWRI) began operating early this year.
He said that the board is still collating the initial reports of other coastal barangays to determine the extent of the damage.
The PWRI extracts 71 million liters per day (MLD) of brackish water from these wells.
The brackish water is converted into potable water, with PWRI supplying 25 MLD to the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD).
The MCWD signed a contract with PWRI in February 2023 for the procurement of 25,000 cubic meters of desalinated water per day for 25 years. Under the agreement, PWRI will deliver 10 MLD during the first 19 months, increasing to 25 MLD, or 25,000 cubic meters daily, for the remaining years until the contract expires.
However, Rama said the process meant that PWRI also discharged 50 MLD toxic brine into the city.