The Virac Water District is asking its more than 10,000 concessionaires to conserve water as lack of precipitation has reduced its production of potable water from three sources by nearly 50 percent.
According to VIWAD General Manager Gabriel Tejerero, an inspection of the Cawayan source up in the mountain above Calatagan area showed that from its maximum capacity of 192 liters per second, the water flow has been reduced to just 30 liters per second.
The Cawayan source serves seven upland barangays, including Pajo San Isidro as well as three subdivisions and a relocation site, with a total of 5,063 connections.
At 30 lps, the source can deliver only a maximum of 79,000 cubic meters of water a month, considerably short of the 110,000 cubic meters required by residential consumers using the average monthly consumption of 21.8 cubic meters.
Citing a report from Engr. Jorge Romero of the district’s production division, GM Tejerero disclosed that the two surface water sources serving the poblacion’s 25 barangays – Sibanjan and Padurog – are down to a combined 40 liters per second flow compared to the maximum total of 83 liters per second.
This is equivalent to 105,000 cubic meters per month, about 20,000 less than the 125,000 cubic meters needed by its 5,756 water concessionaires.
VIWAD records also indicate that in February 2026, all three sources produced a total of 347,000 cubic meters of potable water, with the current total flow rate of 70 liters per second capable of producing only 184,000 cubic meters.
The average monthly consumption of residential consumers is 21.8 cubic meters while commercial concessionaires average higher at 37.4 cubic meters, with government consuming the highest volume at 131.5 cubic meters.
GM Tejerero bared that the public in the service areas may have noticed reduced water flow from their faucets in recent days.
He said that the district is now operating its deep well at Tagkalo, Bigaa to augment the supply from Cawayan.
The district previously requested the provincial government in recent years to provide a lot inside the capitol compound for the site of a deep well but such an option is no longer available due to saltwater intrusion in the water table.
Another deep well is planned near Moonwalk road while a third one is supposed to be located inside the Virac LGU Community Hub at San Isidro Village.
The drought-inducing El Niño is predicted by PAGASA to emerge by the June-July-August period and persist until the end of 2026.
The same climate outlook sees below normal rainfall over most of the country, including Catanduanes, this April.
With this in mind, the VIWAD management is appealing to its concessionaire to practice water conservation measures such as: ensuring all faucets are closed when not in use; shutting the faucet off while applying soap on dishes or on one’s hands; using a glass while shaving or brushing one’s teeth; using a dipper and pail in lieu of the shower when taking a bath; reusing laundry water for flushing the water closet, cleaning the bathroom or watering plants; and using a basin in washing vegetables and reusing the water for plants.
Residents are also urged to schedule laundry times, use rags and pails in washing vehicles instead of a hose, prevent kids from wasting water, avoid using water hose in cleaning sidewalks and roads, water plants only during the early morning or late afternoon, and ensure the faucets are closed during water interruptions.
Store water adequate for use and ensure the containers are sealed to ensure cleanliness, it said, along with the regular monitoring of house water lines and faucets for leaks.
Leaking transmission pipes and illegal connections should be reported to VIWAD through the hotline numbers or its Facebook account.