• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A shortage of potable water is currently being experienced by about 4,000 residents of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, after operations at the Medina Water Treatment Plant came to halt, pending repairs of its transmission lines.
Due to flooding on Sunday in Barangays 1 and 5 in San Carlos City, which was an offshoot of heavy rains coming from the mountains, a wall of the water treatment plant spring intake collapsed, leading to the destruction of water transmission lines, according to an initial report of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
Joe Recalex Alingasa, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) head, disclosed on Monday that the Medina Water Treatment facility serves approximately 10,500 consumers of San Carlos City.
He said that the Medina Water Treatment Facility is currently experiencing “low to no water” status.
That prompted the San Carlos City government to conduct water rationing, using the water tankers of the Bureau of Fire and Protection, as well from the CDRRMO.
Water rationing is being conducted at Metroville, Fatima Village, Rovirih Heights, Rita Homes Subdivision, Algers Subdivision, Sancaville Subdivision, Sitio Medina, Sitio Cotcot, and Sitio Santo Rosario.
However, residents in those areas will have access to water through their service connections during off-peak hours (12:00 MN – 5:00 AM), daily, according to an advisory issued by the City Waterworks Department.
Mayor Renato Gustilo has ordered engineers to restore water services within a period of two or three days.
The flash flood on Sunday in Brgys. 1 and 5 in San Carlos City affected 73 families, composed of 300 individuals, according to CDRRMO reports. A landslide was also reported at the Upper Eco-Translink Highway in Brgy. Rizal, San Carlos City, which destroyed a house.
The five occupants of the affected home managed to evacuate before the landslide hit.*
