Press Statement by the Cagayan de Oro Water District

PRESS STATEMENT:

SENDONG has wrought extensive damage to COWD facilities
by: Public Relations , Information Division

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
To our valued concessionaires:

The Cagayan de Oro City Water District would like to inform our concessionaires and the public in general that the typhoon SENDONG has wrought extensive damage to our facilities. Our main booster pumping station in Macasandig was completely damaged as it was almost totally submerged in floodwater at the height of the typhoon along with six of our production wells. Interruption in power supply has also affected the operations of some of our pumping facilities. We are currently operating using our generators. Some production wells particularly in Bugo, Tablon and Macasandig have already been operational. Delivery of water from our bulk supplier, the Rio Verde Water Consortium, Inc., has also not been possible since Saturday due to the damage on the bridge crossing where supply to our take-off point would have been channeled. This brings the total supply shortfall to around 70% in the west service area and 46% in the central and east service area. Total estimated cost of damage is about P30, 400,000.00. Below are our completely damaged properties:

1. MACASANDIG Booster Pumping Station, Pilot De Lara, Macasandig)
2. COWD Laboratory (for Quality Control), Pilot De Lara, Macasandig
3. Production Well #1, Pilot De Lara, Macasandig
4. Production Well #4, Biasong, Macasandig
5. Production Well #7, Biasong, Macasandig
6. Production Well #9, Biasong, Macasandig
7. Production Well #19, Vila Angela, Balulang
8. Production Well #24, Caballero Compound, Balulang

On the other hand, our facilities in operation are:
1. Bugo Booster Station - Villa Trinitas Subdivision, Bugo (From Bugo, Tablon and Lapasan)
2. PW#20, 21 & 22 - Villa Trinitas Subdivision, Bugo (From Bugo, Tablon and Lapasan)
3. PW#5 - Reyes Village Subdivision, Bugo (From Bugo, Tablon and Lapasan)
4. PW#11 - Bantiles, Bugo (From Bugo, Tablon and Lapasan)
5. PW#23 - Tin-ao, Agusan (From Bugo, Tablon and Lapasan)
6. PW#29 & 28 - Phasco Village, Tablon (From Bugo, Tablon and Lapasan)
7. PW#3A - Beside Macasandig Elementary School (Mandumol , Aluba, Tibasak)
8. Balulang Booster Station - Balulang (From Balulang to the whole west service area)
9. PW#14 - Balulang (From Balulang to the whole west service area)
10. PW#25 - Balulang (From Balulang to the whole west service area)
11. PW#26 - Singapore, Balongis (From Balulang to the whole west service area)
12. PW#27 - Macanhan (From Balulang to the whole west service area)
13. PW#17 - Balongis, beside Marymount Academy (From Balulang to the whole west service area)

Meanwhile, COWD is utilizing all its available resources to facilitate water delivery to the affected areas. COWD has also sought the assistance of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and private individuals and groups with fire trucks to assist in distributing water by allowing them free access to our hydrants along the highway from Lapasan to Bugo. For their support we are indeed truly grateful.

A cluster of public faucets have also been installed beside our fire hydrants to allow our concessionaires easy access to water. The public is encouraged to go to any of the facilities identified below with their containers so they may collect water for their storage and consumption.

1. PW#3A - Pumping Station ( Faucets) (Near Macasandig Elementary School)
2. M.U.S.T. - Faucets (Near Mindanao University of Science & Technology)
3. Bgy. Lapasan Plaza - Hydrant (Lapasan)
4. CUMC - Hydrant (Across CUMC Hospital, Gusa)
5. Capistrano Complex - Hydrant (Entrance of Capistrano Complex)
6. Balulang Booster Station - Faucets (Balongis, Balulang)
7. PW#17 - Faucets (Near Mary Mount Academy, Balulang)
8. PW#25 - Faucets (Villa Angela, Balulang)
9. PW#27 - Faucets (Near DSWD, Macanhan)
10. KSY - Hydrant (Vamenta, Carmen)
11. Julie?s Bakeshop - Hydrant (Vamenta, Carmen)
12. Jollibee Carmen - Hydrant (Vamenta, Carmen)
13. Golden Heritage - Hydrant (Vamenta, Carmen)
14. Elipe Park - Hydrant (Fronting Liceo, Patag Road)
15. COWD Sub-office - Hydrant (Kauswagan)
16. PW#10 - Faucets (Calaanan)

However, since our laboratory is among our facilities that have been totally damaged and therefore has rendered us incapable of monitoring the level of residual chlorine in our distribution lines, COWD strongly advises the consuming public to BOIL THE WATER BEFORE DRINKING for their own safety and protection.

All efforts to restore the damaged facilities to normal operating condition are being exerted. To attain this, COWD shall be implementing the following activities in the next 31 days:
-Cleaning of Collector Wells
-Rehabilitation of Electric Motors - 10 units
-Testing and Rehabilitation of Transformers- 6 units
-Rehabilitation of Motor Controllers - 11 units
-Disinfection of Production Wells - 6 production wells
-Testing and Commissioning of Facilities

These events are fortuitous and totally beyond our control. Nevertheless, we would like to assure the public that COWD is doing everything in its capacity to restore normal supply operations the soonest possible time. We are calling for sobriety and patience in this time of crisis.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding.

COWD MANAGEMENT