Bohol Water Utilities, Inc. celebrates 23 years of service to the community!

by Victor M. Tambis

Bohol Water Utilities, Inc. is celebrating 23 years of service to consumers. On December 28, 2000, the said Company started operating room the Provincial Waterworks System (PWS) under the Provincial Government of Bohol through the Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) that was signed on August 28 , 2000.

To mark the 23rd anniversary, Bohol Water distributed several giveaways to its consumers who paid their water bills at the office on August 25, 2023. The giveaways include bags of rice, mugs and umbrellas.

Guided by the goal of developing water services within the areas served, Bohol Water developed the facilities in relation to the conditions set forth in the said agreement. Among others, the following were and are being developed by this company: the revamp of water lines;  additional water sources (pumping stations); construction of water reservoirs or tanks; and acquisition of more generator sets to be used continuously to serve pumping stations even during long outages.

Bohol Water is looking for ways to solve the areas that often experience slow to no water supply due to “air lock” by installing “air release valves” in those areas.

Due to the “revamp”, especially for those old and broken water lines and also through the frequent implementation of the Non-Revenue Water Reduction (NRWR) program, the “system’s loss” of Bohol Water as of July, 2023 has become 14% (from 45% at the time of the start of operation in December, 2000).

The system’s loss is the percentage of water wasted from sources or pumping stations and reservoirs. One of the causes of these losses is the leakage from the water pipe.

Bohol Water has strengthened this program to ensure that less or no water is wasted from its sources. In fact, the said Company conducts a monthly Water Leak Detection activity participated in by all employees and led by General Manager Marnelli Bautista. The activity starts at 10:00 p.m. until 12:00 midnight.

The Water Leak Inspection Activity started this year 2023: April at Barangay Cogon, May at Barangay Dampas, June at Barangay San Isidro, July at Barangay Dao and  August at. Barangay Pob. II.

Currently, Bohol Water has 27 pumping stations, 8 reservoirs and 11 generator sets serving, as permitted by the National Water Resources Board (NWRB). These equipment are found in the areas of Tagbilaran City, part of the municipality of Baclayon, in the towns of Dauis and Corella where “BULK” water is supplied.

Among the programs of Bohol Water to respond to the increasing demand for water in the served areas, is the addition of water sources that come from surface water.

(Hulagway sa pipila sa mga konsumidor nga nakadawat ug pahalipay nga 5kg. rice, payong ug Mug)

Employees from Bohol Water participating in the Water Leak Detection Activity done one night at Barangay Pob. II, Tagb. City in the month of August 2023. This is a monthly activity led by Bohol Water General Manager Marnelli Bautista.