THE Maynilad Water Services, Inc. that provides the water needs of half of Metro Manila recently updated Gov. Erico Aumentado on its ongoing feasibility study for the development of Bohol 's bulk water supply project. In a recent meeting at the Century Park Hotel in Malate, Manila, Maynilad President Rogelio Singson presented to Aumentado the results of the fieldworks, issues and concerns on the technical and social aspect of the project as well as “moving forward activities” conducted by his team in the biggest project that the company is undertaking outside of its franchise area of western Metro Manila. The study area in Bohol covers the towns of Cortes, Maribojoc, Antequera, Balilihan, San Isidro , Catigbian, Baclayon, Alburquerque, Loay and Loboc as well as Tagbilaran City and the two towns in the resort island of Panglao – Dauis and Panglao. Collectively known as Metro Tagbilaran, these towns and city will also be the project's service area. The study eyes the Loboc River , the Abatan River in Maribojoc with its tributaries of Inambakan and Sampilangons River in San Isidro as potential sources of water supply.
This early, Singson said his team observed that the Abatan River flow declined compared to when they first observed it last June. The proposed source is in Barangay Dorol, Balilihan. Initial studies show however that it could be not sustainable to supply water to 12 towns and the city. On the other hand, while the Loboc River flow also declined, the baseflow in July was still sufficient for bulk water diversion. The proposed source is in Barangay Gotozon in Loboc, which could be sustainable for the immediate future's need. If both rivers are tapped as sources, the study shows that these would be sustainable to supply Metro Tagbilaran's need although the system would require more infrastructures and higher operating costs.
Meanwhile, if both rivers are tapped as sources but with individual sources dedicated to San Isidro and Catigbian, this scheme would be sustainable to supply 10 towns and the city only, requires individual source development for San Isidro and Catigbian, more infrastructures and higher operating costs. With both rivers tapped as sources, the system would require approximately 105 kilometers of pipelines. Except for Dauis and Panglao towns that were “hostile for fear that their business interests of water delivery might be adversely affected, the rest of the towns considered the formation of a waster district as an alternative support to the Bohol Bulk Water Supply Project, the update showed. Tagbilaran City already has formed its water district. Meanwhile, Aumentado said the Bohol Water Utilities, Inc. (BWUI), the current water supplier of urban areas in Tagbilaran City is also conducting its own study to tap Upper Abatan River to augment or even replace the groundwater it is using now. While it supplies mainly the water needs of urban Tagbilaran, it now harnesses to a large extent groundwater drawn from wells drilled in nearby Corella town after finding out that most wells in the city are now beset with saltwater intrusion. Bohol Water also has tunnel drilling technology through which its main water pipeline from the source can pass through instead of going the circuitous way – along the national highway, thereby saving on cost. On the other hand, Aumentado also said Sta. Clara Power Corp. that now operates the Tontonan Mini-Hydroelectric Plant in Gotozon has also been studying the possibility of supplying bulk water to the towns and the city – but secondary only to its main interest of developing and supplying hydroelectric energy to the province.
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