The Sorsogon City Water District (SCWD) with its partners - PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. (IC) and Abejo Water Corporation (AWC) - for the last two years have been moving heaven and earth to improve water supply in the City of Sorsogon. Various infrastructures have been added to increase the volume of water in our pipes and aggressive, relentless, science-based efforts have been implemented improvequality of water complaint with the Philippine National Standard for Drinking Water (PNSDW). Water system is also continuously being rahabilitated, repaired, improved and expanded.
Despite all the concerted efforts that resulted in ddramatic increase of the satisfaction rating given to SCWD by it's concessionaires, still there are areas experiencing low water pressure and intermittent supply. While it is true that plans, programs, activities and policies are crafted to address the problem, the concessionaires themeselves and other government agencies can do something to make a solution permanent or long lasting.
Concessionaires may wish to help and support their water district by constructing their own cistern and elevated tank. the water from mainlines will be directed to the cistern in timeswhen water supply is available. it will then be channeled to an elevated tank by means of a booster pump. Solar energy is now being harnessed to power booster pumps, hence, no added cost in electric bills to raise water from lower to higher elevation. Continuous, uninterrupted and substantial water supply will then be made available in a household.
Cistern-elevated tank facility is of course an option for those who may have more in life. Considering, however, the importance of water in daily existence, the investment is certainly worthwhile. It will also be of great help to other concessionaires who may not have available finances to provide such a facility, since during peak hours or low-preassure episodes, elevated-tank-equipped households will not anymore source-out water from water mains. This will mean: available water for everyone.
SCWD has also been advocating the use of cistern-elevated tank concept for the construction of school buildings, tenements, hospitals and other government facilities. It is being prayed that the construction of the said facility be incorporated in the Plans and Program of Works. SCWD and its partners will soon attain a substantial volumme of water; but then again, its equitable distribution will require help of many.
The responsibility of supplying safe and sufficient water to our people will always be a primordial obligation of our water utility. It is however imperative that concessionaires, regardless of economic status, support their water district. A simple reporting of leakages and the vigilance of reporting illegal connection will be of great lift.