Davao City water utilities secure supply and safety standards

The Davao City Water District (DCWD) has announced it maintains a substantial water reserve to mitigate the potential impact of El Niño. Spokesperson Jovana Duhaylungsod stated that the utility has an available supply of approximately 650 million liters per day (MLD), significantly exceeding the average demand of 350 to 400 MLD. This provides a daily reserve of over 200 million liters.

This reserve is primarily maintained through groundwater production wells located 200 to 250 meters underground, which are less susceptible to dry conditions. Currently, the DCWD is prioritizing surface water supply, utilizing approximately 300 MLD, and will only activate groundwater wells if there is a significant reduction in surface water availability.

In a related development, the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project (DCBWSP)—a public-private partnership between DCWD and Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc.—received an ‘Excellent’ rating of 95.17% from the Department of Health (DOH). The rating follows the acceptance of its Water Safety Plan (WSP), which outlines protocols for managing risks and monitoring water quality from the Tamugan River to ensure safe drinking water for the region.