Water is stable for now, but Iloilo City is testing wells

ILOILO CITY—The city government’s General Services Office (GSO) will seek laboratory testing of shallow wells in 25 barangays as the El Niño phenomenon threatens Iloilo City’s water supply, even as an initial survey showed well water volume remains stable.

GSO head Engr. Neil Ravena said on the sidelines of the city government’s flag ceremony that his office is recommending another survey and laboratory tests to check the wells for contamination.

The 25 barangays, identified as vulnerable to water scarcity under the city’s Climate and Disaster Risk Assessment, cover more than 1,000 shallow wells.

Ravena said the next assessment would examine water quality alongside the amount of water available in the wells.

“Our initial survey reports from last week indicated no significant change in water volume, and this week, we are recommending for [an] additional survey, and at the same time, laboratory tests for our deep wells,” Ravena told reporters.

He said the assessment would look into possible contamination of groundwater sources, including saltwater intrusion in coastal barangays.

“Sometimes when our groundwater sources run low, dirty water comes in, and sometimes there are also saltwater intrusion, particularly in our coastal barangays,” he explained.

Ravena also requested an additional survey of public schools to determine whether their water sources could serve as an additional supply for surrounding communities.

“If we no longer have sources, we look at schools, which have wide area, which if they have wells, there may be less contamination,” he said.

He said rainfall affects the volume of water in shallow wells, which makes conservation important as the city prepares for prolonged dry conditions.

“As precipitation lowers, we are expecting [water in] shallow wells to also decrease in volume. […] We appeal to [the public for] water conservation,” Ravena said.

He urged barangays to strengthen information campaigns and orientations on preserving and conserving water.

He also called for closer monitoring of communal shallow wells. Multiple households use these wells, so more residents could be exposed to contaminated water if the sources are unsafe.

The proposed testing follows earlier water-quality assessments that found several shallow wells still contaminated despite chlorination.

Reports in October stated that the affected wells were recommended for condemnation after they continued to fail laboratory tests.

The latest assessment comes as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that a strong to very strong El Niño is present in the tropical Pacific.

PAGASA said the phenomenon is expected to persist until the first quarter of 2027, with its effects potentially extending through the first half of the year.

Groundwater use has also raised concerns about land subsidence and saltwater intrusion in Iloilo City.

Separate data presented by coastal and marine geologist Fernando Siringan showed 1,226 open and closed wells across six coastal barangays.

Siringan warned that excessive groundwater extraction could draw saltwater into freshwater sources.

A 2024 study by the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute also recorded land subsidence rates of 4.0 to 8.8 millimeters per year in parts of Mandurriao, Molo, and La Paz from 2014 to 2020.