Bacolod City water crisis resolved

Local water distributor Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa)-PrimeWater has committed to improve its services in this city that has been beset with water problems.

The assurance was made by Bacolod Bulk Water Inc. during a water summit called by Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez.

During the meeting, Mayor Benitez aired the residents’ water concern and demanded specific actions from PrimeWater to address the problem.

The mayor told the officials of the Baciwa-PrimeWater that water supply for only two hours in many areas in Bacolod is “unacceptable.”

“It should be 24/7,” stressed Benitez, citing that the city is facing a shortage of 20 million liters per day of water supply.

In response, Bacolod Bulk Water Inc. assured Benitez of 15 million liters per day (MLD) from the Murcia side, and 5 MLD more will come from spring water in Barangay Alangilan.

Murcia Mayor Gerry Rojas and Talisay Mayor Neil Lizares, who attended the summit, assured Benitez of their support in providing water from their areas to help Bacolod City.

Ernie Delco, PrimeWater technical audit group head, said his firm has allotted P36 million in the next six months and more than P80 million in the second half of 2024 to improve water services in Bacolod.

PrimeWater is undertaking the massive repair of 600 pipeline leaks in 30 days to save a huge volume of water in Bacolod, and putting in new pipelines covering 23 kilometers, Delco said.

However, the mayor said Bacolod has 130 households and only half of it is connected to the water system of Baciwa.

Baciwa-PrimeWater is providing 75 MLD from groundwater through 60 wells.

PrimeWater has entered into a joint venture with the local water distributor aimed at upgrading the pipe system of Baciwa and supplying the city with potable water round the clock.