DAVAO CITY – This city is confronting two faces of disaster from continuous rains in the last five days – no water and too much water.

RESIDENTS travel on a boat in a submerged residential area in Barangay Tigatto, Davao City on February 1. Continuous rains since January 30 have inundated many parts of the city, particularly on the Davao River. (Keith Bacongco)

While some low-lying parts of this city have been submerged in flood water due to continuous rains, some elevated areas here are experiencing intermittent to no water supply at all.

The scarcity of water supply was due to the reduced operation of Davao City Water District (DCWD) under the Cabantian, Dumoy, Panacan, and Tugbok line due to the temporary to production of bulk water supply because of the high turbidity of the Tamugan River on February 3.

Along with its announcement of water interruption, DCWD also said that it has "no estimated time of resumption."

The turbidity in Tamugan River was due to heavy rains in the mountainous areas of this city amid the bad weather systems affecting the entire Davao region.

Aboitiz-subsidiary Apo Agua Infrastructura Inc. (Apo Agua) started supplying bulk water to DCWD since December 1 last year.

Bulk water is supplied to all areas in Panacan WSS: Sasa, Panacan, Ilang, Tibungco, Bunawan, and Lasang; all areas in Cabantian WSS – Cabantian, Communal, and Indangan; and most of Dumoy WSS – Sasa, Pampanga, Lanang, Bajada, Buhangin, Indangan, Mandug, Agdao, and Downtown Proper.

The temporary shutdown of bulk water supply affected almost the entire city.

In a press statement posted on its website on January 15, Apo Agua boasted that it is employing advanced technology.

“In line with the Aboitiz Group’s Great Transformation thrust to become the Philippines’ first techglomerate, Apo Agua has taken an innovative approach to water infrastructure development with the use of advanced technology that ensures it meets the needs of current and future generations,” Apo Agua said.

In a press statement on February 2, Apo Agua admitted that it has stopped operation due to high turbidity levels.

“During instances of high turbidity levels that exceed operating parameters, occurring only five to 10 percent of the time, the WTP will temporarily stop production while maintaining a controlled and reduced flow to supply water to DCWD. The remaining water in the treated water reservoir, which can supply for an additional 10 to 12 hours, will be used until production resumes once raw water quality meets the specified parameters,” the water firm said.

This was not the first time that Apo Agua temporarily shut off its bulk water supply to DCWD.

In mid-January, Apo Agua temporarily shut off due to the high turbidity of Tamugan River amid the heavy rains brought by shear line.

The DCWD assured that ground water sources are operating at full capacity to ensure water supply under the Line 2 of Dumoy WSS.

However, hundreds of households in elevated areas in Barangays of Buhangin, Hizon, and Pampanga experienced intermittent water supply since February 1.

Former Philippine Sports Commission Commissioner Charles Raymond Maxey, a resident of this city, criticized the DCWD, saying that their service has worsened amid the entry of the bulk water supplier.

Maxey lamented that the water rate keeps on increasing but there is no improvement in services. “Water interruptions are almost every day.”

The Facebook page of DCWD where it posts water service interruptions has been peppered with complaints from its consumers due to scarcity of water.

Apo Agua explained that although its water treatment plant (WTP) is designed to treat raw water from the Tamugan River, instances of excessive heavy rains in the upland areas of the Panigan-Tamugan Watershed can cause the river’s turbidity levels to exceed operating parameters.

It added that turbidity measures water clarity and shows the amount of solids and sediments present. High turbidity makes the water appear cloudy or muddy.

“Rest assured that Apo Agua is in constant coordination with the DCWD to provide advance notice of high turbidity in the Tamugan River, enabling the ramping up of groundwater source production. Conjunctive use of both surface water from Tamugan River and groundwater sources is being implemented by DCWD to ensure continuous water supply,” Apo Agua said.