Once the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project (DCBWSP) becomes fully operational, not all parts of the city will be serviced by it, an official from the Davao City Water District (DCWD).
The P12-billion DCBWSP will tap the Tamugan River as a major water source for the system and is estimated to supply 300 to 345 million liters of water per day. It is a joint project of DCWD and the Apo Agua Infrastructura.
DCWD spokesperson Jovana Cresta Duhaylungsod said in a press conference on Wednesday, August 3, that only 70 percent of the entire city will be benefiting the Bulk Water supply.
She said areas that won't be included in the project are on the side of Toril District including Lubugan, Binugao, Toril Proper, and Sirawan. Their water source will still be groundwater.
"Difficult mangita og source. Mao nang (It is difficult to scout for a water source. That is why) the design of the Bulk Water Supply is to address ‘tong atoang (the) challenges to look for sustainable sources that have substantial quality and quantity na comparable sa atoang (that is comparable to our water) sources na makita sa atoang groundwater sources sa District 3,” Duhaylungsod said.
The areas that won’t be serviced by Bulk Water are strategically located near the facility. Some of these areas have not also yet been serviced by DCWD.
“Kaning nasikbit na areas, particularly sa (These nearby areas, particularly in) Baguio Proper and barangays, in terms of elevation, halos pareha lang man gud sila kataas sa treatment plant ni Apo Agua. Dili gyud siya pwede ma-divert ang tubig didto (these areas are almost at the same level where the treatment plant of Apo Agua is located. We cannot divert the water going to these places) using the Bulk Water Supply,” she said.
To address their water needs, she said DCWD will be constructing an independent water supply system.
As early as 2019, she said they scouted for land for the construction of a production well.
Admittedly, Duhaylungsod said it was a challenge on their end as lot owners would back out due to price negotiation.
By now, she said they had already procured a lot, where they can start with the exploratory well drilling to determine the sufficient supply.
“We will proceed now with the development of production well, storage facility, and pipe network,” the official said.
She did not disclose the area where the independent water supply system will be constructed, which would last for around five years, including the procurement and lot acqusition.
Meanwhile, based on the commitment of their partner Apo Agua, Duhaylungsod said they are targeting to operate within this year.
“We (DCWD) are ready, everything is in place, in fact, some of the structures are already being used as per commitment by our project partner (Apo Agua) they target operate still within the year,” she said.
The official said the project will provide relief soon to water woes being experienced by residents in the second district of the city.
“Unlike District 1 and District 2 we find it difficult to look for sources that have substantial supply quantity and quality,” Duhaylungsod said.
Once operational, it will address the water supply situation in Mandug and augment the Dumoy Water Supply System Line 2 that serves the areas of Buhangin, Bajada, Pampanga, and portions of Panacan.
“This will also serve the Panacan Water Supply System which provides water from Sasa Kilometer 12 up to the endpoint in Lasang, this will also supply our Cabantian Water Supply System so we can resolve the water supply and water quality concerns in Canbantian, Indangan, and Communal,” Duhaylungsod added.
Apo Agua, in a press statement, said they are ramping up construction works for the DCBWSP, and are targeting to complete the project before the end of 2022 despite a tight timetable.
This is after "they are taking the lead role" in the construction of DCBWSP which is reportedly going to provide 300 million liters of water to approximately one million of its Dabawenyo consumers.
The company said they are fast-tracking the construction due to setbacks in the timetable of the construction of the project due to the "complications" brought about by the restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and other contributing “internal factors.”
Prior to taking over the project, Apo Agua said J.V. Angeles Construction Corporation was the lead contractor in the project's engineering, procurement, and construction.
"With Apo Agua in the lead, it would aggressively pursue as many construction work streams as possible, in parallel with each other, as the main catch-up strategy," Apo Agua said.
The company said they are targeting to complete the project before the end of the year amid "very tight timetable."
Previously, Apo Agua targeted to start operations of the bulk water project before the end of 2021. However, the project has yet to be completed. RGL