News Update Water Shortage Hounds Baguio Folk

BAGUIO CITY - Because of the rapid urbanization due to the city's cool and romantic weather, Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan here admitted that one of the impending problems of the country's Summer Capital is water shortage which could only be solved once the matter will be 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 (BWD) will now have to look for other alternative sources of substantial water that will cater to the growing water demand of 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 was dragged for several years. Domogan admitted it is high time that BWD crafts another terms of reference so that another bulk water project will be in the pipeline to address what could be the worst problem the city will ever encounter which will be the insufficient water supply for the growing population. According to him, the 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 so that local residents and visitors will be able to enjoy steady water supply. During the height of the El Niño phenomenon early this year, most of BWD deep wells and water basins reportedly dried up that caused an artificial water shortage in most parts of the city, especially in highly elevated areas where the 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 once the bulk water supply project will not be implemented considering that consumers are now 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 explained 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 stressed the cooperation of all 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.