DCWD: water supply loss due to power supply issues

MANY parts of Davao City are experiencing low water pressure to no water after two long durations of single-phasing of power supply by Davao Light and Power Company that prompted DCWD to stop operation of 10 production wells in Dumoy last June 2 and 3.

Affected are some areas served by Line 2 of Dumoy Water Supply System (WSS) specifically portions of Buhangin (from J.P Laurel Avenue to Panorama Homes, from Crossing Milan to Holy Trinity and from Ma-a Bridge to La Verna Hills Subd.); Poblacion (Barangays 9, 10 & 11, Madapo Hills, Don Isidro Village, Bacaca Road, El Rio Vista, Rolling Hills, San Antonio Village, Riverview Village, Marfori Heights I & II, Napaka Village, Doña Vicenta Village I & II, Awhag Village, Mineral Village, Garden Park Village, Dr. Gahol Avenue, EMP Village I & II, Diho Subd. III, San Rafael Village, Ledesma Subd., Fatima Village, Monfort Village, Circumferential Road, Stella Maris Homeowners Association, Garcia Heights, Morning Side Heights, NCCC Housing Bajada, San Antonio Bajada, Hilltop Village and back of DLPC); J.P. Laurel

spheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) released a forecast that the El Ni¤o phenomenon may begin between the months of June and August this year and last until the first quarter of 2015.

Magsuci said DCWD cannot resort to acquiring generator sets as per Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s advice as a way of preventing the recurrence of the water outage caused by the disruption of power last February 27.

“Dili pud possible kung mag gen set mi (It’s impossible for us to acquire gen sets),” she said.

She said the DCWD would need some P480 million for gen sets. The figure does not include lot acquisition and other expenses, she said.

She added that processing the gen sets would require about six months.

The DCWD, however, is also considering the full operation of the 300MW coal-fired power plant by third quarter next year.

“So magiging white elephant ang atong gen set, aside sa wala mi ing-ani kadakong kwarta nga iallocate immediately para sa gen set. So karon dili na pud nato siya makipanabangan. Dili siya practical sa pagkakaron, (The gen set will be a white elephant, aside from us not having enough money to buy them. As of now, we won’t be able to use them either. It’s not practical,)” she said.

Magsuci also said that the DCWD has a special line from Davao Light and Power Company to provide power for some of its wells in Dumoy area.

Out of 36 wells, at least 28 of it are exempted from power interruption, she said. ANC