Human Interest In Potable Water Supply and Environment Preservation

by ERNESTO T. SOLIDUM

The Aklan River and other rivers in Aklan decharge billions of galoons of water a day to the sea unutilize. It is a waste of natural resources our public officials had never thought of using the water. This is official neglect and violation of their Oath of Office. The picture above is a Libacao portion, the upper Aklan River.

"State of Potable Water Supply and Future Plan of MKWD" is the topic discussed at the weekly Kapihan on Sept. 3, 2011 at Smokehauz Resto & Bar. The lone guest is Atty. Edmund Peralta, chairman Board of Director (BOD) of Metro Kalibo Water District.

According to Atty. Peralta, "the mandate of Metro Kalibo Water District (MKWD) is to organize, maintain, and deliver optimum water quality standard to concessionaires that are financially viable and sustainable. The coverage includes 21,500 households located in the municipalities of Kalibo, Batan, New Washington, Balete, and Banga. Under our aggressive program of adding 1,500 households per year targeted are Numancia, Makato, and Lezo all located West of the Aklan river."

MKWD agrees to provide water connections to new areas if they grant us authority to manage their water districts. Getting the pipeline across the 550 meters long Aklan bridge and secure DPWH approval will cost us P5 million. High consumer demand and satisfaction are based on consistent water quality and quantity delivery since it is sourced from deep wells," said Peralta.

We are constantly monitoring our primary and secondary pipelines for worn out and leaking sections to anticipate problems. A major concern however is serviceability of our pumps and diesel engines which are dependent on imported oil. Not to overlook is the competitive salary and wages of personnel and debt servicing. Consequently, we have increased our customer billing for residential houses from P170 per 10 cubic meters to P205.00. This significant increase of 20.5 percent was due to the implementation in 2003 but withheld until May this year out of consumer accommodation. However, we need to be realistic. Based on our critical financial analysis, the amount is reasonable and just for economic viability of the project", explained the BOD chairman.

"Upon my assumption to duty, we had an outstanding LUWA loan of P130 million payable in 15 years. A good portion of our revenue went to servicing the loan. Hence, we thought of transferring the account with DBP which interest rate is lower. Besides, the savings of P15 million could be realized within 5 years. This was a turning point in our fiscal administration," Peralta added.

"Presently, our plan is to engage in infra development like constructing new office building in Andagao and a huge reservoir in Balete either made of steel or fibreglass to remove sediments and impurities. For the present need, tapping under-ground water is very much feasible because of our relatively small coverage, safer and economically viable", said Peralta.

It is said that one can live without food for a week but dies within three days without water. Water is critical for its life giving sustenance. However, many Filipino households have yet to gain access to this valuable commodity. Speaker Sony Belmonte reported that based on NSO data, 1.5 million households have no potable drinking water and that 273 towns are waterless.

In filling up the demand for quality drinking water, a considerable number of privately owned water processing plants have sprouted in all towns spurred by product endorsement of celebrities. Periodic maintenance job on systems’ pipelines invariably result in intake of unwanted sediments (dirt, sand, mud, and others) flowing to one’s faucet. Flushing is practiced only upon detection but for senior folks with blurred vision or in case of brownouts everything can be a disaster.

MKWD extends five (5) percent discount to senior citizens on monthly bills provided they submit a certification from Brgy. Captain and ID pictures, and limited to certain quantity consumed. Beyond the limitation, no discount. The rationale is to insure that the age of beneficiary is clearly established. Really, this policy inhibits misrepresentation though patently ineffective and superfluous.

When water concessionaires apply for water service connection, they fill up personal data form giving away data like age, address and location sketch of household. Actually, determining age of applicant can be validated by Certificate of Live birth issued by the local civil registrar of the town or from NSO and not (for Heavens’ sake) from the Brgy. Captain.

Obviously, the big question is what happens to bonafide senior citizens’ ID’s? Why is there bureaucratic red tape to deny senior citizens of privileges even dis-criminating against them if they have commercial water connections?

Manager Renato Albar was suspended for nine (9) months without pay by the Ombudsman. He was found guilty of "conduct detrimental to the service" said Chairman Peralta. He is now replaced by Mr. Rogelio Estanislao. Considering the long preventive suspension the case should not be taken lightly because of major infraction on his professional career and integrity. MKWD is a government owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) hence it would be to the best interest of the service if he is a goner. (Dismissed?)

We tend to overlook the fact that our household sewerage goes out to the river and the sea untreated. Shame on us. One major source of pollution lies in this gray area where MKWD has a definite role to prevent. For sound human habitat, let us not only wage war on solid and gaseous pollutants but also liquid wastes. This is a lifelong obsession worsened by the surging population growth, scepticism, and indifference.

The Drainage Master Plan of Kalibo must incorporate the filtering of our sewerage effluents before discharging them to open bodies of water. The proof of the menacing environmental threat is the murky and foul smelling waterways especially in the population center of Kalibo, Numancia, Makato, Ibajay, Nabas, Malay, and New Washington. For decades, damages to fisheries and wildlife have been enormous. Ironically, there is no legislation yet on liquid waste management.

Singapore leads the world in recycling liquid wastes for their faltering domestic water supply requirement. Its technology and political will are amazing feat. Pretty soon other countries will follow suit in the face of dwindling freshwater supply (only 2 percent of total water reserves is fresh water), forest cover, and global warming.

Considering the importance of water in improving lifestyle, its delivery must be rationalized, net profits must be the least of its motive. /MP