THE DAVAO City Water District (DCWD) said the bulk water supply project has been supplying six of its water supply systems (WSS) since Dec. 1, 2023.
DCWD, along with Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc. announced this during the 20th city council’s first regular session on Jan. 9, following a series of no appearances in the council.
The water has been distributing bulk water to Calinan, Tugbok, Riverside, Dumoy, Cabantian, and Panacan water supply systems following the completion of critical infrastructures of. to ensure the potability of water.
“This pivotal development is a key component of the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project, harnessing the Panigan-Tamugan River as a sustainable surface water source to significantly augment DCWD’s water supply,” DCWD and Apo Agua’s joint statement reads.
Jovana Cresta Duhaylungsod, DCWD spokesperson, said that before the water district accepts Apo Agua’s supply, both verified the water quality meets the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water.
Apo Agua guaranteed sustainable delivery of bulk water to these supply systems with its 300 MLD water treatment plant with a 70 km pipeline.
Duhaylungsod reported that in areas experiencing intermittent supply, availability, and pressure have significantly improved. DCWD has lifted the suspension of service of connection applications to areas they previously discouraged accepting due to supply and pressure limitations.
Effective Jan. 1, the water district has started accepting applications from all areas in Panacan WSS (Sasa, Panacan, Ilang, Tibungco, Bunawan, and Lasang); Cabantian WSS (Cabantian, Communal, and Indangan); and most of Dumoy WSS (Sasa, Pampanga, Lanang, Bajada, Buhangin, Indangan, Mandug, Agdao and Downtown proper).
“Even prior to the lifting, as early as last year, we already coordinated with developers, homeowners associations, and barangays to prepare the requirements needed for them to process the application,” Duhaylungsod said.
However, consumers are told to manage their expectations as Apo Agua and DCWD are undergoing operational adjustments to expand their reach of bulk water supply. She added the adjustments are simultaneously carried out and will address cases of low water pressure to no water.
“Although very minimal, and isolated cases, they might notice, not only in Cabantian in particular, that there are residues, we highly recommend to report to our office right away because that is part of the indicators for monitoring and additional interventions,” Duhaylungsod said.
