BCWD to enforce immediate, long term solutions to address water problems

By: Susil D. Ragas

BUTUAN CITY, September 6 (PIA) --The Butuan City Water District (BCWD) will enforce  immediate and long term solutions  to address the pressing problems of water supply in the city.

BCWD General Manager Anselmo Sang Tian during the launching of the infomercial held recently at Inland Resort said that the immediate solutions will include declogging the filtration systems to allow water to flow more easily, establishing two new pumping stations and two new booster stations, reviving a currently inactive ground reservoir in barangay Bonbon and constructing two additional reservoirs in barangays Pinamanculan and Bonbon.

"While long-term solutions include protection and rehabilitation of Taguibo Watershed through reforestation, institutionalize protection and development, legally and morally empowering the BCWD consistent with section 31-E of Presidential Decree 198, and creating beneficial public-private partnerships and joint ventures," Sang Tian added.

Sang Tian explained that during the height of the illegal logging and mining operations, the Taguibo River suffered a severe drop in water volume and even worsened when it reached turbidity (dirt and pollution) levels of 1,000 NTU (nephelometric turbidity unit) compared to international standards of safe drinking water which requires only a level of 1 NTU.

"Ironically, heavy rains causes the water supply to dwindle because mudflows from loosened soil runs into the water basin and this causes water pressure to drop, and turbidity levels rise, making it impossible for the BCWD’s water pumping stations to supply the entire city, that is why there is no water from the faucets during heavy rainfall," Sang Tian said.

BCWD launched the two 30-second informercial to convey the public the importance of protecting and preserving the Taguibo Watershed. (SDR/PIA-Surigao del Norte)