Water Supply Concerns IGaCoS Officials
A stable water supply, due to problems on the standardization of the water system, was identified as the top concern of the IGaCoS City Coalition for TAG (Transparent Accountable Governance) at a recent meeting for the group at Punta del Sol Beach Resort, Island Garden City of Samal. Members of the IGaCoS team, led by City Administrator Cleto Bravo Gales, Jr., are looking into the formulation of a Comprehensive Water Code to address the situation.
Transparent Accountable Governance is a project of The Asia Foundation with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAid). Now on its third phase, TAG is implemented by the MinBC in the following Mindanao cities: Butuan, General Santos, Iligan, Island Garden City of Samal, Malaybalay, Oroquieta, Panabo, Surigao, Tacurong, and Zamboanga.
Potable water supply and traffic and transportation issues in Mindanao top the list of concerns of local government and private sector representatives of 10 Mindanao cities involved in the Transparent Accountable Governance Project.
Full article: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dav/2009/01/16/bus/water.supply.transportation.top.concerns.of.tag.cities.html
Hi Randy, we just recently connected to the spring water supply. It is very clear and clean. This is better than the underground water they used before, which was salty. The rain water we collected in the tank was quite dirty from all the birds – lots of grass, twigs, and goodness what else. They cleaned the tank and now filled it with the water from the springs. It automatically shuts off when full. Now I can rinse off after a swim outside in the garden. I never did before because the water was still seawater, salty.
Hi Ellen – I was hoping we could collect rain water there. I guess I’ll have to see what are our options up in our neck of the woods. I know there is water to the main road. Still needs to run up to the property. I don’t know anything more about it than that.
Sounds like you’ve got a good solution now.
Hi Randy, it looks like the pressure is gravity fed. It seems to have enough pressure to push the water up into the tank. In the house, I still have the water pump to give more pressure to our taps. Yes you need to install your pipes to the main line. I am not sure how far your property is to the main line.
One thing I get frustrated with the rain water from the tank is that our pipes get clogged all the time, especially in the U joints, i.e. pipe to the toilet tanks, kitchen sink, toilet sink. Kjartan has to open and clean – from what I can see, they are dead grass, dirt and muck. You can minimize it by putting a screen on the entry pipe to the tank, but then you have to clean and clear the screen frequently too.
Hi Ellen – I think I’d prefer to clean some screens to opening the pipes
It’s always something though.
The water isn’t too far, as I remember. We were told that it would be run as soon as building was being done there. Not anything we need to worry about, as I don’t expect to be the first to put up a home.
I’m sure we’ll use a combination of systems – rain water, city piped, bottled water, etc.
Hi Randy – In the neighborhood where you and I bought land, it is my understanding that the water district has committed to run water connections to our lots once three houses have been built there. The water is just a couple hundred meters down the road as of now.
For Feyma and I, we plan to collect roof water as a backup water system, and of course will use bottled water for drinking/cooking and such.
Hi Bob – now that you mention it, I do remember Feyma saying it was three houses. She pointed out where the water was, but I couldn’t remember how far it was. That’s not far at all.
I’ll have to follow your lead with the water collection. That’s not something I have any experience at, but I’m sure there’s plenty of advice available on that.
Hi Randy – I have a friend who lives in Glan. They have no public water at all, and they have a very extensive system for collecting roof water. They are actually able to collect enough to support their needs for even long term dry periods. In addition, they have quite an efficient filtration system and have no problems with the water having foreign debris. I plan to get together with them for planning when the time comes around.
Hi Bob – I’m sure I’ll just emulate whatever you do, or on the chance we get something up first, use what you’ve found. It just makes a lot sense to go that route, even if the piped water is working fine. At the very least we’d have a back up system, but I’d want to try to make as much use of the rain water as possible.
Hello all, I also put a filter system in the faucet. It gets brown and dirty and have to be changed. Rain water is best I think – I like it better for washing and showering – skin and hair feels softer. I also use it for cooking and for coffee. We haven’t gotten sick from it – so must be okay.
I think if you put the screens or filter system before it goes through the pipe system, this will eliminate the clogging of pipes. For almost a year, we have never ran out of water, but we also have a fair sized tank here. I even use it for watering my vegetable garden. In our boat, we have about 1000 liters – we economize of course, but it takes a long while to run out. With all the rain in the tropics, this is not a problem for us, just work to collect them in jugs before pouring into our tank.
Good luck. I will let you know if I get the invoice for the water use – see how much it is.
Hi Ellen – thanks for the first hand report. It really seems that rain water has a lot of benefits, with just a few hassles. I can’t see any reason not to use it for as much as possible excepting for a little time and work with regards to it.
I’m sure I’ll be drinking bottled water, in the beginning at the very least. I’ll evaluate that as time goes by.