Crystal-clear spring emerges in Bogo City, Cebu amid water crisis after earthquake

A crystal-clear spring has emerged along the shoreline of Barangay Gairan in Bogo City, Cebu, after the 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck the province on September 30 and caused water shortages.

According to Kuya Kim’s report on “24 Oras” Thursday, many households faced the challenge of finding clean water for daily use following the quake.

“‘Yung inuming tubig po, binibigyan naman. Pero ‘yung pangligo, panghugas ng plato, at tsaka panglaba, ‘yun ‘yung medyo kuwan sa amin. Naputol po talaga ‘yung supply pagkatapos ng lindol kaya wala na po talaga kaming ibang mapagkukuhanan ng tubig,” Jover Fernan said.

Eventually, the locals discovered a spring emerging by the sea.

“Crystal clear po talaga siya. Hindi talaga nauubos ‘yung tubig dito. Ginagamit namin ‘yung tubig sa pangligo at tsaka ‘yung panghugas ng plato, paglaba. Marami po talagang nakinabang do’n.

"Malaking tulong talaga, parang sa kabila ng lahat na sakuna na naranasan namin, meron pa ring bukal na dumating. Siguro bigay ng Maykapal,” Jover said.

According to geodetic engineer Jason Alberto, the spring’s sudden appearance is a result of the recent earthquake.

“Ang tawag sa phenomenon na ‘yan ay earthquake-induced release of groundwater doon sa mga fractured rocks natin,” Engr. Alberto said.

The fractured rock layers called aquifers hold groundwater, and an earthquake can cause the aquifers to release water due to pressure. 

“‘Yung aquifers, ‘yun ‘yung rock layers natin nagho-hold nung groundwater natin and during earthquake, possible na-disrupt ‘yung groundwater flow so nag-induce siya ng mga excess pressure. Naghanap siya talaga ng dadaanan,” he explained.

While the spring offers temporary relief, the expert warned that the water should not be consumed without purification. 

“In using that water, hindi natin siya advisable hangga't hindi siya dumadaan ng commercial purification for human consumption. But generally, sa mga non-essential use, pangligo, panghugas, pangdilig, puwede naman siyang gamitin,” Engr. Alberto said.

He also noted that the area should be closely monitored.

“When we speak on a geological timeline, in the future, puwede siyang maging sinkholes. But for now, early stage pa lang ‘yan. Mahalaga rin na mapag-aralan ito ng kinauukulan,” he said.

According to Bogo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Rex Leoben Ygot, the spring site has already been assessed.

“Pero as of now, hindi pa talaga siya na-focus kasi ‘yung inuna pa talaga ‘yung paglalagyan talaga ng mga [internally displaced persons] natin,” he said.

—Carby Rose Basina/CDC, GMA Integrated News