Water shortage hounds Baguio folk, visitors

Water shortage hounds Baguio folk, visitors
By Dexter A. See
BAGUIO CITY – Rapid urbanization has resulted to water shortage in this summer capital.

Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan admitted this but said this could be solved once the matter is addressed by concerned government agencies.

With the upcoming conversion of the Antamok open pit site in nearby Itogon, Benguet into an engineered sanitary landfill, the Baguio Water District will have to look for alternative sources for local residents and visitors, especially during the dry season.

The Benguet Corporation’s open pit mine site was earlier chosen as the source of over 50,000 cubic meters of potable water daily which will be supplied by BWD to the consumers in the different parts of the city as contained in the ambitious multi-billion bulk water project.

However, the mine firm was forced to abandon the bulk water project after it was overtaken by events, particularly the escalation of prices of construction materials and stiff opposition which dragged for several years.

Domogan admitted it is high time the BWD crafts another terms of reference so another bulk water project will insufficient water supply for growing population.

According to him, prospective investors will now be the ones to locate the possible sources of potable water supply which will be able to provide the required 50,000 cubic meters of water daily.

During El Niño early this year, most of BWD deep wells and water basins reportedly dried up that caused water shortage in most parts of the city, especially in highly elevated areas where low water pressure could not reach mountainous places.

According to Domogan, the over P700 million loan from the Australian government for the improvement of the city’s water pipelines will be rendered useless if the bulk water supply project will not be implemented considering that consumers are starting to pay the said loan as evidenced by the debt servicing charges reflected in their monthly water bills.

BWD water sources around the city produce over 50,000 cubic meters of water but at least 40 percent is being lost due to technical losses and alleged pilferage, thus, it needs another 50,000 cubic meters of water to provide a daily supply of potable water to local residents.

Domogan said water is one of the basic necessities in life which must be provided the people, thus BWD must be able to find solutions on how to address the growing demand since the city’s population is rapidly increasing as a result of it being a potential investment haven.

He said cooperation of stakeholders as well as neighboring towns of Benguet will play a key role in the realization of the ambitious bulk water project that will totally solve the impending water crisis in the city in the next several years to prevent whatever problems that will arise once the problem will happen.