Apo Agua state-of-the-art facility supplies water to Davao City Water District

Apo Agua Infrastructura Inc., a water subsidiary of Aboitiz InfraCapital, began supplying safe, reliable and sustainable water to the Davao City Water District on 1 December 2023, marking a significant leap forward in the country’s water infrastructure development.

The operational launch of the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project — the largest of its kind in the country at 300 MLD with a 70-kilometer pipeline — addresses the water needs of over one million Davaoeños. Equally important, it augments the city’s reliance on groundwater sources, allowing the aquifers to rest and replenish while accommodating increasing water demand.

In a recently released joint statement with Apo Agua, DCWD announced that it had started supplying the water last December to its Calinan, Tugbok, Riverside, Dumoy, Cabantian and Panacan water supply systems. Both parties have verified that the water quality meets the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water, the benchmark for water safety in the country.

“We are proud to mark this milestone of our Apo Agua team in partnership with the Davao City Water District to deliver safe, reliable and sustainable water to the people of Davao. For Aboitiz InfraCapital, this achievement also underscores our commitment to advancing crucial infrastructure, building thriving ecosystems and enhancing the quality of life in the communities we serve while being responsible stewards of the environment,” AIC president and CEO Cosette Canilao said.

Apo Agua’s 300 MLD Water Treatment Plant is powered by renewable energy sourced from its own run-of-river hydroelectric power plant. It was designed with the waterenergy nexus concept — a first in Southeast Asia — where the water used to generate power is treated and supplied to DCWD’s water supply systems, creating an environmentally conscious and efficient water supply cycle.

Its facility also includes a DoH-accredited laboratory for water quality analysis capable of conducting additional water test parameters, ensuring that high-quality potable water is consistently delivered to DCWD for distribution to its customers.

TAMUGAN River has been identified by the DENR as Class A, meaning it is suitable for conventional water treatment. This invaluable natural water resource will serve as a lifeline for Davaoeños, providing them essential drinking water through the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project.

APO Agua’s water treatment plant, located in Barangay Gumalang along the Bukidnon-Davao Highway, uses a water-energy nexus concept, where the water used to generate power is treated and supplied to DCWD water reservoirs.

BEFORE being distributed to DCWD’s water supply systems, the water is verified as compliant with the standards set by the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water.