AN OFFICIAL of the Davao City Water District (DCWD) warned that the water crisis being experienced in Metro Manila is "not a far thought" to happen in Davao City.
DCWD spokesperson Imelda Magsuci said Friday the city might experience water shortage in the coming years as the city's ground water supply would be equal to the water demand by 2011. This, according to a study made early in the decade.
Magsuci said, citing a study conducted by the National Water Resources Board (NWRB), the daily extraction of water from city's ground water would be equal to the demand of the populace by next year and as the city continues to grow, the water supply might not meet the demand.
"If we will base (our projection in previous studies) like the NWRB's, I think this was in 2002, by 2011 equal na ang demand at ang supply (by 2011 the demand and supply will be equal), she said.
She said the DCWD is recommending for the development of the surface water to complement the ground water and to mitigate ground water depletion.
The DCWD spokesperson said the number of water service connections has grown at an average rate of 7,200 connections every year. As of June 2010, DCWD has a record of more than 170,000 legitimate water service connections in the city.
"Patuloy na lumalaki ang population natin sa city and more and more ang nag-aaply for water services connection (The population in Davao City is steadily increasing and more households are applying for water services connection)," she said.
"If we are not prudent in using our water (what's happening in Manila could happen to us), that's why ang Water District gina-encourage ang mga consumers nga careful sa use sa water and atong mga water conservation tips ipadayon siya," Magsuci said.
Meanwhile, DCWD entered an agreement in April with energy utility firm Hedcor Inc. (Hedcor) in a bid to push through with their development plans in Tamugan River -- a surface water development plan and a hydro electric plant, respectively.
"Two weeks after we signed the agreement we conducted a survey in the area. Ang agreement namin noon is 200 meters below ang Hedcor but ang area na pinili nila is mababa pa talaga kasi they were looking for a narrow area in the river," she said.
"They will have their feasibility study and we will have ours. Hindi na rin nila kailangan ipaalam nila ito sa amin kasi wala nang ise-settle, kumbaga wala nang conflict ang DCWD sa Hedcor," Magsuci added.
However, the city's Watershed Code, which prohibits infrastructure construction in the watershed areas including Tamugan River, still needs to be amended to allow both firms to materialize their plans.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte expressed opposition to the Watershed Code's amendment while Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte expressed support for the amendment.
"Ang water district dili lang mag-interfere sa ilahang conflict. It's between the mayor and the vice mayor. Kami musunod lang mi kung unsa ang decision sa local government," Magsuci said.
Magsuci, however, expressed positivism that the city will be supportive of means to add to the city's water supply.
"Si Mayor Sara nisulti man pud siya nga she is for drinking water. (Mayor Sara has said that she wants that water should be used for drinking only) Ating purpose naman is for drinking water, ang so I don't think may conflict," Magsuci said.
Magsuci also said the city recently formed partnership with the Netherlands water utility firm, which agreed to lend their expertise for free in order to improve the water pressure from the water source to areas in higher areas, which does not have regular water.
"This is funded by the Asian Development Bank and this is for free. Merong kaming agreement with the Netherlands water utility, before our partner is the Malaysian water utility, ngayong Netherlands na. Tuturuan nila tayo paano imo-monitor and ating non-revenue reduction plus yung pressure management and quality of water sa ating Cabantian and Panacan areas," Magsuci said.
"Nagsimula kami first week of June and June 26 dumating yung first batch of experts, they made their assessment then bumalik sila sa Netherlands to study the data they collected. Magda-draft sila ng recommendations and babalik sila rito but wala pang date kung kailan. Tutulungan nila tayo for one and a half year and this is for free, wala tayong babayaran," she said. (Jade C. Zaldivar)