The Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) said some fire hydrants in Mandaue City have become non functional due to illegal water extraction, which also contributes to rising non revenue water losses.
MCWD Acting Water Distribution Division Manager Engr. Cesar Boroy made the disclosure during a Mandaue City Council session on Monday, June 1, 2026, as he addressed concerns raised over hydrant reliability across the city.
Boroy said several hydrants were intentionally shut off after repeated reports of unauthorized water extraction, which affected their availability during inspections and raised concerns about their operational status.
The issue came after the Bureau of Fire Protection Mandaue reported that 13 of the city’s 35 fire hydrants were defective or not operational, particularly in central areas.
Boroy said MCWD has yet to formally coordinate with the BFP regarding the report but assured that both agencies would align their data.
“Makig istorya mi sa findings nila, para ma jive namo ang information and data,” Boroy said.
“Mag ask pa mi sa ilang report and makig meet mi nila and mag sit down mi,” he added.
During the council session, Boroy also noted that MCWD has not yet received an updated map or coordinates of hydrant locations from the BFP and requested two weeks to verify the system and submit findings.
Councilor Jennifer del Mar stressed the need for regular inspection of fire hydrants, noting their critical role in emergency response.
She said hydrants lose their purpose if they are not immediately usable during fire incidents, especially in densely populated areas where access for responders is often limited.
“Kasagaran sa mga sunog naa sa mga suok nga lugar, niya dili dayon masod sa atong BFP and fire volunteers,” she said.
MCWD said there are around 100 fire hydrants in Mandaue City, though the exact number of operational units has yet to be confirmed.
Boroy said the utility will shoulder repair and replacement costs but still needs to finalize budgeting after coordination with the BFP.
He clarified that not all hydrants are defective, explaining that several were shut down after reports of illegal water extraction and alleged resale of water drawn from hydrants.
Boroy said only the Bureau of Fire Protection is authorized to use fire hydrants, and unauthorized extraction has led to financial losses for MCWD.
“Daghan reports nga gikawatan gyud, unya dili taga BFP ang manguha,” he said.
Because of repeated violations, MCWD closed affected hydrants as an immediate measure to reduce non revenue water losses.
“Mao to ang nakita nga immediate action para muubos ubos ang non revenue water kay daghan man manguha pero dili authorized,” he added.
Boroy said emergency protocols remain in place, including a 24 hour hotline for water diversion when hydrants are needed during fire incidents.
He also said MCWD can redirect supply to boost water pressure in affected areas when necessary.
The BFP earlier reported that only 10 of the 35 hydrants in Mandaue have sufficient pressure to support fire trucks, while the rest operate at low to medium levels.
Boroy appealed to the public to stop illegal water extraction, warning that it affects not only Mandaue but also nearby areas due to system wide losses.
He said non revenue water currently accounts for about 29 percent of MCWD’s total production, driven by leaks, system inefficiencies, and unauthorized usage.
The Mandaue City Council has proposed involving barangays in monitoring hydrants once repairs and rehabilitation are completed, a move MCWD said it supports and may formalize through a memorandum of agreement with the city government.
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