11 areas in Bacolod to get more water supply

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By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – Residents in 11 areas here will receive an additional five million liters per day (MLD) of water supply by May 30.

Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez announced that PrimeWater has informed him that the Bocal-Bocal Spring in Barangay Alangilan is now connected to the break pressure tank of the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa)-PrimeWater. This connection is currently being disinfected to ensure the water is fit for use, Benitez said in a Facebook post.

The areas set to benefit from the additional water supply, barring any issues like pipe leakage or clogs, include Villa Angela Subdivision, Barangay Villamonte, Barangays 27, 28, 29, and 30, Eroreco, Hervias 1 and 2, Villa Ramos, and La Salle Avenue.

The five MLD water supply will be injected into the pipelines on Thursday.

The city’s water demand is 108 MLD, but PrimeWater reported that its existing supply of 70 MLD had decreased to 50 MLD due to the El Niño phenomenon.

To address the water shortage, Baciwa-PrimeWater has identified additional water sources: 1.8 MLD from Highland Hills, two MLD from Forbes Hill, and seven MLD from 11 Deepwell Optimization projects. This is in addition to the five MLD from the Bocal-Bocal Spring.

This development follows a meeting between Benitez and the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) last week to discuss the city’s water status.

Benitez met with LWUA chairman Ronnie Ong and Baciwa general manager Mona Dia Jardin to discuss the state of the city’s water supply and the joint venture with PrimeWater.

The LWUA will set a meeting with Baciwa’s board and PrimeWater management.

Benitez has previously expressed disappointment over PrimeWater’s failure to provide a quality water supply to consumers.

According to the contract, within five years from November 2020, PrimeWater should ensure consumers enjoy a 24-hour uninterrupted water supply by the end of the second year. This led the mayor to ask Baciwa to review the contract provisions and submit a water security plan that addresses both the effects of El Niño and overall water supply planning, including emergency buffers.

Based on the agreement between Baciwa and PrimeWater, Benitez said PrimeWater would be penalized with PHP 2.4 million for non-compliance with the provision. Currently, the city is conducting a water rationing program to provide supplemental water supply to residents.