DAVAO CITY–The Davao City Council’s committee on environment and natural resources has called on the Davao City Water District (DCWD) to stop its underground drilling operations because it might affect the city aquifer.
Councilor Diosdado Mahipus Sr., the committee chairman, said the water level of the city’s aquifer “is fast depleting” and that tapping other sources would be a more viable alternative.
“It is high time for the bulk water supplier to utilize surface water,” Mahipus said during Tuesday’s City Council session.
He said more than 3 million gallons of fresh water from the city’s springs, watersheds and other surface sources remain untappped.
Meanwhile, Councilor Pilar Baraga also asked Mahipus’s committee to act on the concern of Interface Development Interventions (IDIS).
Braga said in her privilege speech that there is a need to ensure the Water Resource Management Board is functional and regularly conducts strict monitoring in lieu of the absence of National Water Resources Board (NWRB).
“This because of the impending implementation of Davao City’s Water Code due to the refusal of the NWRB to recognize LGU’s authority in the utilization and regulation of its natural resources,” she said.
Baraga also lamented the “weak monitoring” of water extractors and water-related activities by the NWRB.
“In 2015, the NWRB registered 27 large-scale and small-scale industries that extract groundwater in Talomo-Lipadas watersheds. However, ongoing uncontrolled drilling and well constructions are operating within these water resources zones,” she said.
Citing Davao City Water District (DCWD) data, Braga said Davao City’s required 108,358,841 cubic meters (cu.m) in 2015. This demand is projected to increase to 164,392,803 cu.m in 2031.
She said that currently, the city has 58 production wells within the capacity of 112,993,904 cu.m. and the groundwater capacity could not supply the increasing public demand for the next 12 years. (Armando Fenequito Jr/PNA)
