MNWD inaugurates 2nd biggest pumping station in Carolina

By Jam R. Madrid NAGA CITY --- With El Niño threatening the province of Camarines Sur, Nagueños need not worry for their supply of potable drinking water after the Metropolitan Naga Water District (MNWD) inaugurated the Carolina III Pumping Station located at Sitio Caromatig, Barangay Caroilina, here on Friday, April 5, this year.

MNWD General Manager Virgilio B. Luansing I said that the Carolina III Pumping Station is the 27th water pumping station in the city and is the second biggest pumping station with a rated capacity of 80 liters per second (LPS), next to Panicuason Pumping Station with 100 LPS.

“This is very timely as this will add up to our sources of water. If other areas are having problems with water, we are blessed because even if Carolina III has only 80 LPs, it has free-flowing water of 10-15 LPS, meaning, even if the motor is not running, water still flows. That’s a blessing from God,” Luansing noted.

Seventy percent (70%) of MNWD’s source of water comes from ground water, while thirty percent (30%) of which comes from the spring of Mount Isarog which serves as recharge area. It’s like a big basin where water is stored underground and is being extracted especially during summer.

Hence, Luansing calls on everyone to help MNWD in protecting the watersheds at Mount Isarog through community involvement and strengthened partnerships.

In case the water supply weakens, Luansing assured the public that MNWD has prepared contingency plans with its three lorry trucks ready to provide water in areas affected by low water supply. They also have a lorry boat in operation that services the river-barangays in the towns of Canaman, Magarao, and Camaligan.

“As ground water has its limitation, MNWD is also preparing for its transition from ground water to surface water wherein water from Naga River and Bicol River will be used as source water thru the Bicol River Surface Water Treatment Plant which will be operational by 2020,” Luansing added.

The blessing and inauguration of Carolina III Pumping Station together with the new MNWD service vehicles was officiated by Rev. Fr. Domingo “Aba” Florida and was graced by MNWD Board of Director Gilbert Albero. The significant event was also witnessed by officials and staff of MNWD. (JRM-PIA/CamSur)