MIWD to impose water rationing
Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) Interim Manager Edwin Reyes announced yesterday that they will impose water rationing in the city after its main water transmission line in Barangay Amerang, Cabatuan was destroyed by typhoon Frank.
Reyes said they have activated their old water pipelines to provide potable water supply to its clients. The water rationing is only a remedial measure. The pipeline which was destroyed by the typhoon has bigger capacity compared with the old water pipelines. Aside from Iloilo City, MIWD also supplies water to the towns of Oton, Pavia, Sta. Barbara, Cabatuan, Maasin and San Miguel.
The water supply in the city was cut since Saturday. The rehabilitation of the pipelines will take some four to five months in order to have the steady supply of potable water. The rationing is the only solution that the water district could employ meantime it is using its small water pipeline, said Reyes.
The scarcity of water in the city is also attributed to the effects of typhoon in the Tigum River and Maasin Dam. These sources of water are covered with soil due to erosion. The water district is dependent on the ground water and deep wells.
Meantime, Iloilo Provincial Health Officer Dr. Patricia Trabado encouraged the people to boil their water before drinking. The water should be boiled 2-3 minutes before drinking. They will also provide chlorine in the different rural health centers.
A tablespoon of chlorine is good for 1 liter of water. The mixture should be left for at least 30 minutes before using it. It will ensure a safe water. The container must be washed properly, said Trabado.
Trabado likewise advised the people to avoid eating "double dead meat" from animals that died during the typhoon but still slaughtered for human consumption. Food must be cooked properly. Sanitation must still be observed not only in the evacuation centers but in all homes.
Typhoon victims must make sure to keep themselves warm and dry as they might catch sickness. The common sickness are fever, flu, skin disease and eye disease and even measles. Everyone must take precautionary measures, said Trabado.