Bacolod gears up for water rationing amid dry season

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Mayor Greg Gasataya has urged PrimeWater to provide immediate solutions to the city’s worsening water supply shortage as the dry season stretches into its peak months.

Gasataya met with PrimeWater representatives at the Bacolod City Government Center on April 16 to map out interventions and prevent a deeper shortfall.

He said supply from Bacolod Bulk Water Incorporated (BBWI) to the city’s northern areas has dropped from 24 million liters per day (MLD) to 16 MLD.

Supply fell further to 11 MLD after repairs on pipeline leaks and damage to a reservoir took parts of the system offline, PrimeWater data showed, translating to a total reduction of 13 MLD.

PrimeWater’s overall production capacity has decreased from 100 MLD to 87 MLD, with further cuts expected in the coming days as the dry season persists.

The utility’s supply capacity stood at 70 MLD during the same period last year, indicating that even the current diminished output remains above year-ago levels.

Gasataya directed the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) to prepare water tanks and deploy water trucks to augment rationing in areas with limited or no supply.

PrimeWater is prioritizing deliveries to barangays currently without water, including Villamonte, Estefania, and Taculing.

During the meeting, the utility committed to continue addressing the reservoir issues that have caused low water pressure across the city.

PrimeWater, a subsidiary of Prime Water Infrastructure Corp., operates water distribution in several Philippine cities and municipalities under joint-venture arrangements with local water districts. Its service in Bacolod has drawn repeated complaints from residents and local officials during past dry seasons.