SINCE the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) was imposed, the Davao City Water District (DCWD) noted a high water consumption resulting in some areas experiencing low water supply.
DCWD spokesperson Jovana Cresta Duhaylungsod said that while they do not have the specific figure of the consumed water level, based on their monitoring in its water sources, almost all had a decrease in its water levels.
Due to an increase in water consumption in all areas in the city, Duhaylungsod said some parts of the city experience low water to no water supply during peak hours.
"Kusog ang hatak sa atong water supply maong naa'y complaints na hinay ang tubig (Due to the high consumption of water, some areas are experiencing low water pressure)," Duhaylungsod said on Wednesday, April 8, in a phone interview.
Majority of the complaints they received in their hotline centers were from consumers in Tugbok District. She said Tugbok's water source is the Tugbok Water Supply System.
Also, residents living in Malagos in Baguio District, who rely their water supply from the Malagos Water Supply System, also experience low to zero water supply.
Duhaylungsod said the higher water consumption was expected since almost all consumers are just staying in their own residences since the ECQ took effect on April 4.
Mostly, the water usage is for essential Covid-prevention purposes such as handwashing, bathing, and disinfecting. Other activities such for cooking, and drinking added to the higher consumption.
"Medyo timing pud tungod summer vacation karon. Tungod sa kainit, dali uhawon ang mga tao (Since it summer, people tend to use water more like for drinking)," Duhaylungsod said.
To mitigate the problem, the DCWD official said the water utility is deploying water tankers in affected areas every week to address.
Meanwhile, she said the problem is only an isolated case, and has assured all its consumers that there is still ample water supply.
She added they had suspended scheduled water maintenance repair so as not to interrupt its water service.
"Even if naa mga areas na nagahinay ila water supply, ato ginapaningkamutan na dili sila mazerohan within the 24 hours aron mubalik dayon ang tubig, unless naa emergency water service interruption nga di nato kontrolado (Even if some areas are experiencing low water supply, we try our best to immediately normalize the water supply within 24 hours, unless there is an emergency water service interruption, which we cannot predict and control)," Duhaylungsod said.
Meanwhile, she advised consumers to conserve water, and limit non-essential usage.
She also advised those living in areas with poor water supply to store water, which they could use in times of poor supply.
DCWD recently announced that they have extended the waive of the imposition of penalties for water bill with due dates from March 1 to April or until the lifting of the ECQ.
The water utility management also temporarily suspended the disconnection of delinquent accounts from March 17 to April 19, or until the ECQ is lifted.