DCWD to install booster pumps in 24 low-pressure areas ahead of El Niño

The Davao City Water District (DCWD) is speeding up the installation of inline booster pumps in 24 locations it has identified as critical areas likely to see low pressure or no water at all during peak hours, as El Niño raises concerns over supply.

DCWD spokesperson Jovana Cresta Duhaylungsod said at the Habi at Kape media forum that procurement of materials needed for the pumps is under way, according to Mindanao Times. "Hopefully we can finish procurement by November and start installation by December and finish around that time," she said. The water district has allocated P15 million for materials and other installation requirements.

The 24 sites are spread across 16 barangays. DCWD is coordinating with these barangays to finalise locations and secure clearances and resolutions, and has so far presented the project to 10 of them.

Priority areas include Shrine Hills to Langub; parts of Barangay Bucana; subdivisions in Catalunan Grande, Buhangin, Magtu-od, Angliongto, Sasa and Panacan; Gaisano Relocation in Matina Pangi; Hilltop, Bajada in Barangay 19-B; Jacinto Extension and Piapi Boulevard; areas in Centro and Lapu-Lapu; and Biao Tienda in Barangay Ula.

Duhaylungsod said these areas normally receive enough water, but could experience low pressure or outages during peak hours if supply from bulk provider Apo Agua falls to critical levels. Some sit on elevated ground that relies on natural pressure, while others are in clusters served by small pipelines that were never upgraded because of right-of-way problems, even as connections there grew.

"The booster pumps will help improve water supply availability in these areas even if we have constrictions in terms of mainline availability," she said.

DCWD said it has enough water for daily needs. It reported about 688,000 cubic meters of available water, 300,000 from surface water supplier Aboitiz and 388,000 from groundwater, against daily demand of about 381,000 cubic meters for its 280,000 service connections. The reserve is held in groundwater sources, which the district said have not shown significant El Niño effects.

Surface water is being closely monitored because it is more exposed to heat and evaporation. Duhaylungsod said a drop in bulk supply to 150,000 cubic meters per day is the point at which some areas would begin to feel the effects, though this would not require rationing or long interruptions.

On costs, DCWD said its rate adjustment was scheduled before recent global price pressures. A 12.5 percent first tranche took effect earlier this year, with a 13 percent second tranche set for 2027.