PrimeWater to boost water supply by 2025

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY—PrimeWater has committed to ensuring a surplus of water supply by 2025, reaching up to 50 million liters per day (MLD) by 2028.

The assurance came from Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez during a press briefing earlier this week, following discussions with PrimeWater officials at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC).

The company projects to alleviate the current water shortage by one MLD, with plans to initiate a surplus in the coming year.

According to a letter received by Benitez from Roberto Brique Jr., president of PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp., the company acknowledged the significant water challenges affecting concessionaires and the local community.

PrimeWater is exploring innovative solutions and investing in sustainable infrastructure to prioritize customer needs and ensure quality water service.

Initiatives include increasing bulk water supply incrementally: 30 MLD by 2026, 40 MLD by 2027, and 50 MLD by 2028.

Additional projects such as two MLDs from a new deep well in Villa Angela and the construction of water treatment plants at Matab-ang and Sum-ag rivers are expected to further boost supply.

Brique highlighted completed projects that have already enhanced water services, including the Highland Hills Project which added 5.3 MLD to serve Villamonte and Eroreco areas, and the reduction of non-revenue water from 23 MLD to 20 MLD as of March 31, 2024.

Also, the firm said that it has five existing water trucks for water rationing with a total of 53 cum capacity, which served 12 affected areas and delivered 388,000 liters as of April 27, 2024. There is also an ongoing distribution of 24 storage tanks to 12 barangays identified with 0 to 4-hour water availability.

Furthermore, emergency repairs and new installations have been proactive responses to immediate needs.

These initiatives include the Forbes Hill to North Circumferential Road Pipelaying, with an additional two MLD to improve availability in areas of Eroreco, Bata, and Mandalagan which is currently at 30 percent development progress as of April 26, 2024, with target completion on May 30, 2024, 11 Deepwell Optimization, with additional of seven MLD to improve water production, and the ongoing coordination with the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) and local government unit (LGU) to create Water Security Plan Committee.

The firm said that it has also been actively engaged in collaborative efforts with key water-concerned agencies to enhance bulk water services in the locality, such as the signing of contract with Home Invest Holdings, Inc. (HIHI) for Bocal – Bocal Spring initiative that will help improve the water availability on the North side, and the negotiation of a contract with Bacolod Bulk Water, Inc. (BBWl) on the BBWI Injection Point 2 initiative that will help improve the water availability on the South side.

Benitez said that according to PrimeWater, 50 percent of the consumers have been getting 24/7 water supply, but because of El Niño, it has gone down to 43 percent. “This means that 57 percent of the consumers are currently affected by the water shortage,” he added.

The mayor has earlier expressed disappointment over the failure of PrimeWater to provide a quality water supply to their consumers, citing a provision in the contract that states that “within five years from November 2020, PrimeWater should ensure consumers enjoy a 24-hour uninterrupted water supply by the end of the second year.”

Based on the agreement between Baciwa and PrimeWater, Benitez said that PrimeWater shall be penalized with P2.4 million for their non-compliance with the said provision.

Benitez said that he’s asking Baciwa to review the provisions of the contract of PrimeWater.