BWD, Prime Water breaks ground for pipelaying in Batac

Batac Mayor Albert D. Chua (third from right) leads the groundbreaking ceremony for pipe laying for Brgys. Lacub, Caunayan and Callaguip in on June 6, 2019. Batac Water District manager Maria Dona Sagun (second from right), Prime Water branch manager Joseph Sta Barbara (left), DPWH-INED II Engr. Mathias Malenab and members of the BWD board of directors join the Batac mayor for the said ceremony. (Doms dela Cruz)

By Dominic B. dela Cruz

Staff reporter

Batac City—The Batac Water District (BWD) in partnership with Prime Water Corporation (PWC) has successfully conducted a groundbreaking ceremony for their pipe laying activity on June 6, 2019.

BWD general manager Maria Dona Sagun said this new project is the start of the BWD’s “new journey”.

Ms. Sagun hopes that this project will give the city’ water concessionaires better services with the help of Prime Water as its new partner.

The pipe laying along Brgys. Lacub, Caunayan and Callaguip is the first scheduled project of BWD and PWC this year; next up is the construction of 100 cubic meters reservoir tank at Brgy. Baay. this city.

Ms. Sagun also hopes the Baay reservoir tank, which is one of BWD’s priority projects will solve the low-pressure along elevated areas starting February next year.  

The first project starts with a 2.1-kilometer PVC pipeline that will replace asbestos pipelines along the Manila North Road and inside the city proper.

The project is expected to be completed in 182 calendar days.

Ms. Sagun announced that BWD is first water district in Ilocos Norte which has an approved Water Safety Plan pursuant to administrative order of the Department of Health (DOH).

To comply with the said plan, BWD plans to replace all asbestos concrete pipelines in this city. The said pipelines are also the cause of non-revenue water leakages for BWD.

The asbestos concrete pipelines will be replaced with a PVC 6-inch diameter pipes. The replacement will save BWDs 30 to 50 percent water loss. The said water loss can cater for at least 1,000 households or 5,000 persons.

For the first year, Ms. Sagun promised there will be no water rate increase. In fact, she said water rates even decreased because Prime Water shouldered the franchise tax.

But for the next year, a rate increase is expected as water concessionaires will then shoulder the 12 percent value-added tax of the total water bill. 

The Ilocos Times learned that the joint ventures between the BWD and PWC is for 25 years.

PWC branch manager Joseph Sta. Barbara hopes that this project will solve BWD’s water loss problems.

Mr. Sta. Barbara said this will become an additional water source for at least 1,000 households, which he considers as improvement for future projects.

Batac Mayor Albert D. Chua, meanwhile, expressed his gratitude with the proposed improvement of potable water sources in this city.

Mr. Chua personally thanked BWD and PWC for helping attain the city’s vision and mission in terms of providing and improving the lives of the people of Batac.

He hopes that other agencies, including the Dept. of Public Works Highways and the city government as well, will help in avoiding accidents involving the city’s water pipeline system.

He added that the city government “will always be at their side for the betterment and progress of every Batacqueño”.

DPWH-INED 2 district engineer Mathias Malenab also expressed his full support in giving permits for excavation the BWD and PWC need for their projects.

Mr. Malenab said that the DPWH-INED 2 has no road widening this year in Batac, so the project implementors does not have to worry about pipe laying along the Manila North Road.

“No man adda madalapus da appo ket they have to restore whatever damages and restore it to its original state ta dayta iti maysa a kondisyon ti excavation permit,” Mr. Malenab stressed.

Low water pressure in Laoag

Meanwhile, Mr. Barbara earlier addressed the low water pressure at Brgy. 1 in Laoag City citing this is due to leaks and power interruptions.

Prime Water is also in a partnership with the Ilocos Norte Water District, which supplies water to the province’s capital city.

The Prime Water branch manager explained that only six of the eight deep wells at Brgy. 29, Laoag City have their own generator sets.

To solve this, he said they will purchase additional power generator sets so they will have a back-up option in times of power outages and not be solely reliant on power from the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative.

The Brgy. 29 deep wells primarily supply water in Laoag.

In addition to this, Mr. Barbara also said Prime Water and INWD suffer an estimated 50 percent system loss due to leaks in Laoag City.

He specified that the systems loss are primarily pipeline leaks and illegal connections.

To remedy this, Mr. Barbara requested the formation of a leak detection team for the entire city.

“Ito pa ang rason kung bakit mababa ang pressure ng tubig sa mga ibang lugar dahil may mga leaks sa kalsada na deretso sa mga drainage na kailangan mai-report agad,” Mr. Sta Barbara stressed.

He also appealed to the public to help them by reporting any leaks that they may come across.

Sand in water

Mr. Sta Barbara also admitted that water supplied to Brgy. Balatong, also in Laoag City may have sand mixed with it.

He explained that the water supply for the said barangay is sourced from a deep well at Brgy. Suba in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.

“Ibig sabihin kapag mas malakas ang paghigop ng tubig, mas maraming buhangin din ang sumasama na nahihigop sa ilalim ng lupa at kapag mahina din ang pag-pump ng tubig mas mahina din ang tubig na lalabas,” Mr. Sta Barbara explained.

As a short-term solution, he said they will manage the water volume extracted from the said place while they implement a longer-term solution to the problem.

Mr. Barbara said they will replace existing water pipes along the Airport Road with bigger pipes to also supply water to Brgy. Balatong.

He then asked for patience from their concessionaires as the ongoing pipe replacement projects are mostly located along major roads.

He said they will complete the project at the end of this year or early next year at the latest.