No water shortage in Baguio in summer – BWD

BAGUIO CITY  – The Baguio Water District (BWD) disclosed there is no water shortage in the Summer Capital during the summer months considering that appropriate strategies are being employed to significantly address what is described as ‘seasonal decline in water supply.’
Engr. Salvador M. Royeca, BWD general manager, said residents living in highly elevated areas are usually the ones experiencing limited water supply during the summer months because of low water pressure in the different containment facilities but the same does not mean that there is already water shortage in the city.
“We have been properly managing the situation through rotational rationing and we were able to effectively and efficiently address the situation,” Royeca stressed.
He said one of the strategies that the water district has embraced is the massive campaign to reduce the pilferage by weeding out illegal connections in order to also reduce systems loss so that the volume of water that will be saved will be brought back to the regular consumers as added supply.
According to him, the city’s growing population require some 55,000 cubic meters of water daily in order to ensure the sustainable daily water supply for the public but the current assets of the water district are only able to produce some 48,000 cubic meters of water daily or short by at least 7,000 cubic meters.
The BWD official explained the water requirements of visitors during major crowd drawing events in the city such as the Yuletide season and the month-long Panagbenga festivities were effectively and efficiently provided that is why the water district can provide for the added water requirements of the expected surge in visitors during the summer months.
He cited organizations coming from outside the city which will be conducting their regular conventions in the city during the summer months need not to worry about the water because the water district can manage the situation even with the projected ‘seasonal decline in the city’s water sources’ due to the absence of rains.
Royeca pointed out the water district continues to explore additional water sources for the growing population coupled with the increase in the areas of its coverage so that it will be able to service the local residents and visitors.
He admitted the rains that poured over the city over the past three days have contributed in cleaning the water district’s open sources such as the Mount Sto. Tomas rain catchment basin among others so that the succeeding rains will now be used to supply the depleted water requirements of the city during the summer season.
Royeca disclosed the water district will be taking advantage of the summer season to clean its open water sources in order to ensure the sustained supply of potable water that will be distributed to the local residents in the different parts of the city.
He called on local residents to observe the proper water conservation practices even with the adequate water supply in order for them to be able to contribute in efforts to save water for the benefit of the requirements of the increasing population and the coming generations of Baguio residents.
By Dexter A. See