NWRB, QC government shut down deepwells in Novaliches and Fairview

IN a campaign to curtail the unregulated extraction by deepwells that causes the rapid decline of groundwater levels, the National Water Resources Board and Quezon City local government shut down several deepwells maintained by a shopping mall in Novaliches and two apartelles in Fairview.

In a joint operation by the two agencies last June 18, 2008, the two deepwells of Robinson's Place Novaliches were finally switched off after several years of operation, despite the abundant supply of surface water from MWSS' West Zone concessionaire.

A joint team from the National Water Resources Board and Quezon City government deactivates a deepwell used by shopping mall Robinson's Place in Novaliches despite the abundant supply of surface water in the area.

“While we have long issued an order banning groundwater extraction throughout Metro Manila, we still allow the use of deepwells as main water source if adequate surface water supply has not yet covered the area. But this is not the case with Robinson's Place,” NWRB Monitoring and Enforcement chief Jorge Estioko explained.

Estioko added that running a deepwell without a water permit is a violation of the P.D. 1067 or the Water Code of the Philippines.

He disclosed that they have had their eyes trained on commercial establishments and subdivisions when a study came out showing the rapid decline of groundwater levels in Metro Manila since the early 90's. The study further indicates that excessive groundwater extraction have caused land subsidence.

Following the operation at Robinson's Place was the closing of another permit-less deepwell by Sunfox Apartelle along Regalado St., Fairview, Quezon City, last June 20, 2008. Another establishment in the area, Coral Gables Suites, ceased the drilling of their new deepwell upon order of NWRB and the QC government.

NWRB no longer issues new permits for deepwells because the depletion of Metro Manila's groundwater supply has reached alarming levels.

The disastrous phenomena of land subsidence prompted the QC Government to pass City Ordinance 1682-S-2005, which seeks to stop the drilling of new deepwells, regulate existing ones, and penalize violators in the city.

NWRB Monitoring and Enforcement chief Jorge Estioko (extreme left) and Quezon City Engineer's Office inspector Crispino Ferrer (foreground) look on as the control panel of Robinson's Place's deepwell is closed with a seal certifying that the facility has been inspected and shut down in violation of P.D. 1067 and City Ordinance 1682-S-2005.

The deepwell closing activity was a swift and peaceful operation as the management of the said establishments gave their full cooperation. “ Suportado namin ang NWRB at ang pamahalaan kung ito naman ay para sa benefit ng lahat at ng ating kapaligiran ,” Robinson's Place Novaliches Building Administrator Paul Ryan Castillo said.