Baguio Water District to build 10 deep wells

BAGUIO CIT Y: The Baguio Water District (BWD) is targeting to construct 10 deep wells in strategic parts of the city and nearby areas this year to ensure a steady supply of potable and safe water for its increasing number of consumers.

BWD general manager Engr. Salvador Royeca said that the construction of the 10 deep wells are already in place, although some have already commenced construction last year.

The BWD official pointed out that each deep well will cost from P6 to P10 million to build. Funds for some of the projects were sourced from the water district’s loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).

Royeca said that the minimum production of each of the deep wells is 140 gallons per minute and that the cumulative production of the 10 deep wells is from 3,500 to 5,000 cubic meters per day.

This will augment BWD’s existing capacity, he said.

He added that 90 percent of the water district’s supply of potable water comes from BWD’s 68 deep wells that were built in various parts of the city. He also said that the presence of hundreds of illegal deep wells in the city has affected BWD’s supply of water.

He explained that aside from the construction of more deep wells, the water district is also looking to put up additional rain catchment basins and enter into a bulk water supply agreement with reputable water firms to guarantee a stable supply of potable and safe water.

The operation of BWD is regulated by the Local Water Utilities Administration, which is the government’s regulatory agency administering and supervising the presence of water districts in various parts of the country.