(Digos Water District GM Retes during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas, 26 November 2024)
DAVAO CITY – The Digos Water District (DWD) is actively seeking alternative water sources to address the increasing demand for water supply in Digos City, moving away from its heavy reliance on groundwater.
Speaking at the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on November 26, DWD General Manager Engr. Franklin Retes revealed that Digos City currently relies heavily on groundwater, with utilization rates reaching 84 percent.
This rapid depletion of groundwater resources has prompted the DWD to explore surface water sources as a sustainable solution.
“We have to ensure the availability of water supply,” Retes explained. “Digos City is reaching its saturation point, so we are looking into alternative sources like surface water.”
The DWD has already deployed personnel to specific areas in Digos City, including Barangays Goma, Balabag, and Soong, to assess potential surface water sources. These areas, located in higher elevations, are considered promising for tapping surface water resources.
The DWD’s efforts to secure alternative water sources are part of a comprehensive ten-year plan that also includes continuous drilling of additional wells.
The DWD currently operates ten pumping stations, ten booster pumps, and 11 storage tanks strategically located across its service areas. Three additional pumping stations are in the pipeline, with two expected to be operational by December 2024 and February 2025.
Currently, the DWD serves 22 out of the 26 barangays in Digos City, with the remaining barangays relying on their respective barangay water systems. As of October 2024, the DWD has 23,781 active connections, with 92 percent being residential. By the end of the year, the DWD expects to reach 28,081 connections, benefiting approximately 139,000 residents in the city.
The DWD’s proactive approach to securing alternative water sources demonstrates its commitment to meeting the growing water demands of Digos City while ensuring the sustainability of its water resources for the future.
