Dumaguete water utility builds new pumping station ahead of El Niño

Metro Dumaguete Water (MDW) is preparing for a forecasted El Niño by adding production capacity, improving its distribution network and protecting its groundwater sources, according to Mindanao Times.

The main project is the utility's 23rd pumping station. Construction is set to start this year, and the station is expected to supply an additional three million liters of water per day once it begins operating in 2027. MDW said the project is part of its El Niño mitigation plan.

The company serves about 37,000 consumers in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental. It draws its supply from groundwater through 22 deep wells. MDW said its monitoring still shows healthy groundwater levels, including during the extended dry period of the 2024 El Niño.

MDW Chief Operating Officer Robert Cabiles said the utility is acting early based on advisories from the state weather bureau PAGASA. "But we are definitely not complacent," he said, adding that the company has been strengthening its system to handle prolonged dry conditions.

Other measures include new pipelines, pipe upgrades and network improvements meant to deliver water more efficiently. The utility noted that groundwater responds more slowly to reduced rainfall than surface water, but long dry spells can still affect replenishment. MDW maintains a watershed in Barangay Lunga, Valencia, together with the Dumaguete City Water District and upland farmers.

The utility is also stepping up its conservation campaign. Cabiles asked consumers to track their daily water use, check their homes for leaks and repair or report them promptly. "Preparedness should start even before the worst conditions are felt," he said. MDW said it will keep sharing conservation reminders and advisories on its social media platforms.