Baguio taps Benguet towns for water needs

By Julie G. Fianza

BAGUIO CITY – With dwindling water resources of this summer capital, the city government is eying partnerships with outlying Benguet towns for water supply. 

“There is a need to ink a ,memorandum of agreement with neighboring areas, specifically the Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay (BLISTT) group, as to the city’s water needs, Mayor Mauricio Domogan said.

The rains have partially filled the city’s water needs to 35,000 cubic meters /day wherein the need is 50,000 to 55,000 cubic m/day, the mayor said. Insufficient water has caused scheduling for most of the barangays, he added.

A host community from the BLISTT should be identified wherein the needs for potable water be fulfilled, after which the remaining supply could be distributed to any of the group needing water through a system.        

Underground water supplies 75 to 80% of our water, 5% from the Sto. Tomas reservoir, and 15-20% comes from Buyog-Busol watersheds, the mayor said.

            

With the burgeoning education and tourism population of the city, however, there is a need for more water; both potable and for household use. 

Recently, the city council moved for rain catchment basins for schools, business establishments and government buildings. Water, which may not be potable, from said system could be used for cleaning, washing and watering plants, it was known.

Years ago, a bulk water supply system was envisioned for the city but the deal fell through when the supplier’s capacity to provide such service was questioned by then city executives.