After 41 agonizing hours without supply of water, Dabawenyos can now have a sigh of relief.
Davao City Water District (DCWD) on Monday assured on-time recovery of water supply. This after the water interruption that lasted nearly three days in some parts of Davao City’ first district and most parts of second district.
The water interruption not only affected residents but also upset businesses particularly water refilling stations, laundry shops, and car wash establishments.
Jasper Jaye Hamoy, a resident of Juliville in Brgy. Buhangin, brought his laundry to his mother’s house in Bangkal as he and his children have ran out of clothes to wear in work and school.
Jovana Duhaylungsod, DCWD deputy spokesperson, told Edge Davao the recovery or stabilization of their operation would vary depending on the distance from the storage facility and elevation of the service connection.
The water interruption was scheduled 9 am last Friday until 12 midnight Saturday with repair works that include the welding of the 800mm diameter steel pipeline at La Vista Monte in Bangkal that was nearing completion as of 11:30 PM of Nov. 9, welding of manhole cover steel plates.
From the original schedule of 9 a.m of Nov. 8 until 9 a.m of Nov. 9, the first extension was set to 5 pm of Nov. 9 with varying durations of recovery time (low water pressure to no water).
However, the estimated repair completion time of 5 pm was again extended to midnight (12:01 AM of November 10). DCWD explained through an emailed statement that the pipe is located about 18 feet below the ground. Thus, the repair started with excavation works. Due to the sandy quality of the soil in the excavation site, installation of shoring wall to prevent the soil from caving in and dewatering or pumping out of water from the excavation site took longer.
As of 2:10 AM of Nov. 10, repair works were completed. However, far and elevated areas still experienced low water pressure to no water. As of 3:29 AM of Nov. 10, ‘Notice of Third Extension of Water Service Interruption’ was posted by DCWD on its Facebook page.
As of 11:08 AM of Nov. 10 water supply started to resume in some of the affected areas. However, far and elevated areas still experienced low water pressure to no water.
According to Duhaylungsod from the resumption of operation at 2 am of Nov. 10, the breakdown of recovery are as follows: Buhangin, 24 hours recovery; poblacion, JP Laurel, Cabaguio, Mamay and non-elevated portions of Lanang, Pampanga, and Sasa, 39 hours recovery; Cabantian, 40 hrs recovery; and elevated areas such as Lanang, Pampanga, Sasa and Panacan, 48 hrs recovery.
