The concept of water districts in the country came into being in 1973 when Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos issued Presidential Decree 198 or the Provincial Utilities Act of 1973, paving the way for the establishment of local water districts as well as the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), which was created as the specialized lending institution for the promotion, development and financing of local water districts.
The local officials of the former municipality of Sorsogon, led by then Mayor Raul R. Lee and council were aware of the benefits of this concept to solve the perennial need for sufficient and potable water supply for domestic and commercial use. At that time, the administration of the municipal waterworks lies in the hands of the local government and Sorsogon's water system is old and outmoded, having been constructed in 1927 during the American occupation.
With the urgent need to rehabilitate the existing water system, develop new spring sources and drill new wells to meet the increasing water demand, the local government of Sorsogon lost no time in deliberating for the establishment of a water district as, under the provisions of P.D. 198, an autonomous local water district must be formed and organized in order to avail of the lending facilities and other forms of assistance from LWUA. During the special meeting held on December 13, 1974, the Municipal Council of Sorsogon passed Resolution No. 134 officially creating the Sorsogon Water District (SWD), effective December 17, 1974. SWD was formed for the purpose of acquiring, installing, improving, maintaining and operating the local water supply and distribution systems as well as wastewater collection, treatment and disposal facilities, with all operations eventually being carried out on a financially self-sufficient basis.
On February 14, 1975, the waterworks facilities, which were under the management of the Municipal Waterworks Agency, was formally turned-over to the SWD, thus making it the sole utility managing the waterworks operation in the municipality of Sorsogon. It was issued a Conditional Certificate of Conformance (CCC) No. 20 on January 19, 1976.
In 2001, with the merger of the municipalities of Sorsogon and Bacon into the City of Sorsogon by virtue of Republic Act No. 8806, the name of the water district was officially changed into Sorsogon City Water District (SCWD) with the same CCC No. 020 dated November 14, 2001.
As the highest policy making body of the water district, the members of the Board of Directors are appointed by the City Mayor for a term of six years representing the various sectors of the community - business, education, women, professional and civic. A sixth member is appointed by LWUA as its representative in the BOD when SCWD availed of its loan facilities. The Chairperson is selected from among the members of the BOD. Since its inception, the SCWD has had six Chairpersons of the Board.
The present Chairperson of the Board is Atty. Jesus F. Fumera (2012-present) who represents the education sector. He is joined by other members namely: Dr. Antonio M. Dioneda, Jr., BOD Vice Chairperson (business); Dr. Teresita N. Borromeo, BOD Secretary (civic); Mrs. Sylvia R. Lao (women); and Dr. Norberto P. Monje (professional).
SWD was categorized as Medium Water District on July 5, 1994. As SCWD, it was re-categorized into Big Water District in December 2004 by LWUA and in May 2005 by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). Under the Revised Local Water District Manual on Categorization, Re-categorization and Other Related Matters, SCWD was classified as Category C (medium) by LWUA in March 2012 and as Category B (large) in September 2014.
From 1994 to present, the mantle of leadership of SWCD fell under the stewardship of Engr. Ronaldo G. Barboño, CESE who has initiated a series of actions that has improved inter-employee relations and implementation of projects aimed to increase water production and improvement of the existing water system. Likewise, he undertook the acquisition of equipment and service vehicles that help in maximizing work productivity and the repair and improvement of its infrastructures and facilities.
A sub-office to cater the needs of concessionaires at Bacon District was established in 2011 which accepts applications for new connections, other service requests, orientation seminar and water bills payment from Monday to Friday, from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
In view of the expanding operations of SCWD and to accommodate the increasing number of offices and personnel, a phase-by&345;phase construction of a new Operations and Laboratory Building was initiated on the lot presently occupied by the old Administrative Building which was completed last June 2014. SCWD's Water Potability Testing Laboratory and a Clinic/Lactation Room will be both operational by the end of 2017.
On June 2, 2016, SCWD entered into a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) with PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. for the financing&344; development, rehabilitation, expansion, improvement, operation and maintenance of the water supply and septage system of SCWD for a period of 25 years. The agreement commenced on October 17, 2016.
Under this arrangement, the operations of SCWD will be handled by its partner PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. while the remaining staff of SCWD will be tasked as the Contract Monitoring Unit (CMU). SCWD shall still retain its mandate and structure including its policy-making functions. Likewise, LWUA shall still administer the duties and performance of SCWD.