As water supply continues to decline this dry season, Mayor Greg Gasataya has urged PrimeWater representatives to implement immediate solutions to address the city’s ongoing water supply issues.
The call was made during a coordination meeting April 16 at the Bacolod Government Center, where PrimeWater representatives outlined plans to prevent a worsening water shortage in the highly-urbanized city.
Engineers John Arthur Ramire and Allan Paul Genovata of PrimeWater said that the supply from the Bacolod Bulk Water Inc. (BBWI) has significantly dropped in northern areas of the city, from 24 million liters per day (MLD) to 16 MLD.
The supply further declined to 11 MLD after efforts to address pipeline leakage were undertaken, compounded by reservoir damage, resulting in total reduction of 13 MLD, per data from PrimeWater, the city said in a press release.
But the water provider committed to Gasataya that it will continue to resolve the reservoir issues that have caused low water pressure across the city. The company emphasized that it is prioritizing water delivery to barangays with no supply, including Villamonte, Estefania, and Taculing.
As the dry season persists, PrimeWater’s overall production capacity has decreased, from 100 MLD to 87 MLD, with further reductions expected in the coming days. The company’s supply capacity stood at 70 MLD last year.
In response, Gasataya directed the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) to prepare tanks and deploy water trucks to augment rationing efforts in areas with limited, or no access to water.
He committed to ensure “that water (will be) consistently available when consumers need it most”, and underscored the city government’s priority to safeguard public welfare amid the ongoing supply challenges. ||
