The only way to resolve water scarcity in Cebu is through the development of desalination plants, according to local firm FDC Utilities Inc.
Juan Eugenio Roxas, FDC Utilities president and chief executive officer, said in a water forum hosted by Stratbase yesterday deep wells will no longer work in the region due to seepage of salt water in aquifers.
“Cebu only has the Buhisan Dam and it was constructed in 1911 and ever since, it was not improved. It is also now prohibited to dig deep wells but even if you dig, it is contaminated with salt water. We have no choice but to go into desalination. It is expensive but we have no choice,” Roxas said.
FDC Utilities said at present, Metro Cebu’s demand for water is at least 570 million liters per day (MLD) compared to the available supply of only 270 MLD, or a shortfall of 300 NLD.
“Our plan is to build 80 MLD of desalination facility in Cebu to really help solve the water crisis in Cebu, so hopefully we will get that off the ground. The most expensive water is no water at all. It is going to be blended with the existing supply of water districts so it is not going to be that expensive,” Roxas said.
Roxas said there are existing desalination projects in Cebu but these are small scale.
In 2021, the Metropolitan Cebu Water District partnered with FDC Utilities for the supply of water from desalinated seawater which will be distributed to Marigondon, 30 MLDr South Road Properties, 30 MLD and; Talisay City, the remaining 20 MLD.
