Water supply enough amid El Niño

The Davao City Water District (DCWD) assures the public that there is enough water supply despite the dry spell expected at the end of the month until April.

“The beauty of existing water source is that it is sourced from groundwater supply, so, if there are any effects on the El Niño, it is very minimal,” Jovana Cresta Duhaylungsod said Monday at the Kapehan sa Dabaw Press Club at SM City.

According to Duhaylungsod, dry spells usually affect surface water source, but with the city’s water sourced 100 meters down from the surface, there is a minimal correlation on the dry spell and the supply of water.

However, the DCWD is now gearing up for summer where water consumption is expected to rise.

“What we are preparing on the side of the Davao City Water District is the increase of water consumption. With El Niño or not, as long as it is summer season, based on the trend, consumption hikes,” Duhaylungsod said.

The DCWD, meanwhile, assures that they are not complacent on the supply of the water in the city.

“But we are still evaluating our production for precautionary measures but with the effects of El Niño to our water wells, it is only very minimal,” Duhaylungsod said.

The institution also signified that rationing will least likely to happen.

“We don’t want to result to water rationing because that is not just tasky on our part but also on the customers,” Duhaylungsod said.

Based on their data, the city consumes 302 Million liters per day in 2018 and projects 320 million liters consumption per day in 2019.

Such number is based on the existing service connection, and the possible expansion of our service coverage in 2019. This also took into consideration consumption patterns of hotels and other industries during influx of visitors and tourists during big holidays like Araw ng Dabaw and Kadayawan.

Duhaylungsod also noted that the bulk of the consumption is still from the residential areas but commercial consumption is also looming to hike with the expansion of the city. (Julianne A. Suarez)