City Council’s approval needed to conduct water monitoring

THE Davao City Water District (DCWD) said Apo Agua Infrastructura Incorporated (AAII) still has to wait for the decision of Davao City Council regarding the establishment of the Davao City Water Bulk Supply Project before they can start the water quality-monitoring facility.

In a press conference, Interface Development Interventions (Idis) Director ChinkieGolle said environmental groups in the city are waiting for AAII and DCWD to submit the official water-monitoring report to the Davao's Watershed Management Council (WMC) to know the water quality status of the river against the plantations surrounding the Panigan-Tamugan River.

Water quality monitoring is a system that is being done to assess the potability level of a water source and to pinpoint changes that appear in water bodies over a period of time.

However, DCWD spokesperson Bernardo Delima Jr. said AAII still cannot submit any reports as the water quality-monitoring facility that has to be established in the Panigan-Tamugan River has not yet started.

"Apo Agua told us that they are not allowed to establish any facilities or infrastructures there yet until the Council permits them to legally operate already," Delima said.

Delima said DCWD conducted water quality-monitoring few years ago in the river and found that the water in it is potable and can be a source of water supply in the city with a minimum level of Nitrogen. The level of Nitrogen is an indicator of polluted water.

He added that AAII has to do its separate water quality monitoring as a recent documentation since the assessment of DCWD may have changed after years have passed.

"We assure the public, especially the local environmental groups, that DCWD and AAII will immediately establish the monitoring facility and assess the water once the council approves the proposal," he said.

Earlier this month, the application of AAII is pending in the Council after the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) called a conference to discuss the issues raised by Barangay Tamugan after their staged protest during its second hearing.

“I think it is very generous for this company to present itself to the city to provide water to our fellow Davaoeños specially sa second district,” Davao City Councilor Rene Elias Lopez said.

Lopez said councilors are all geared towards coming up with a 'win-win' solution on how best they will be able to help out and provide clean potable water and adequate supply for the city through consecutive meetings regarding the issue.

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph