SAN FERNANDO CITY, Philippines — Scientists are working with the Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (MWSI) and Pampanga provincial government to make use of flood water in low-lying areas to irrigate farms and even be converted into drinking water.

On cue from its chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, the MWSI will explore the possibility of making floodwater safe for drinking in consonance with the studies initiated by Gov. Lilia G. Pineda to tap the Pampanga River for potable water purposes.

“Expert studies have found that the Pampanga River is suitable for a water source as drinking water, and it can supply the whole province with potable water once a water facility is established,” Pineda said.

Pangilinan has vowed to pursue setting up a water facility for potable water in the province with the main source being water that overflows from the river.

Pineda said on Saturday that such a project will also solve the flood problem as a result of an overflowing river during the rainy season.

Pineda said Pangilinan offered the province the master plan that identified the Pampanga River as a water source instead of deep wells that have been identified by scientists as the main cause behind land subsidence.

Subsidence is the sinking of land mass as a result of pockets created underground by the pumping out of groundwater.

The governor said that Mr. Panglinan, earlier offered a free master plan study on how this flood water will be useful for irrigation, drinking water and possible energy in the form of electricity.

The master plan on the study for the proposed project on how to divert the flood water in low-lying areas, as well as the flows of water inside the Pampanga river to be useful, she said.

The provincial executive said under the scientific studies, the treated water from the river can produce enough potable drinking water to supply the entire province of Pampanga .

In addition the remaining water is needed for irrigating thousands of hectares of agricultural land which supply by the proposed project while on the other hand the Department Public of Works and Highways may be convince to pursue the facility.

Dr. Mahar Lagmay of the University of the Philippines National Institute of Geological Sciences (UP-NIGS) in his earlier opinion that the Pampanga was tagged as the reason behind sinking lands in the province.