Shortage of water supply impending

There is an impending shortage of water supply that tends this early to negate certain modules of progress, if not stunt Bohol's total economic growth.

This could come with human development and better living condition no longer sustained.

The Bohol Water Utilities, Incorporated (BWUI) has thus considered tapping new sources as a proactive approach to prevent these feared eventualities.

The BWUI is guided by a corporate vow to harness potential water sources for safe domestic, commercial and industrial uses.

In its short-term program, the BWUI considers tapping of groundwater sources in Corella, Baclayon and Cortes.

This is imperative especially with the on-going negotiation with the local government unit of Panglao on bulk water supply within a year.

For long-range application, the BWUI needs to tap the upper Abatan surface water within three years to cope up with the rising water demand.

The increase is alone demanded by BWUI's service areas in the city, part of Baclayon and Dauis, the latter involving bulk water supply.

Panglao necessitates abundant quality water as the island expects a phenomenal inflow of tourists, plus the consequent economic activities attributed to the Panglao-Bohol International Airport.

Proactivism in addressing water concern is the call of the time because the daily demand within BWUI's concession area has already overshot the projection.

There is a rapid increase in water requirement.

Bohol's population growth rate has been scaled at 2.9 percent.

BWUI's service area consumes a daily average of 14,500 cubic meters as its number of connections has unbelievably increased from 7,605 in January of 2001 to 11,151 in June last year.

Water requirement hits a yearly rise between six percent (6%) and seven percent (7%).

Consumers attribute the extraordinary increase in connection to BWUI's efficient, reliable and quality water service.

The need to tap new sources of water can be explained by the process of nature itself - and the changes in climate unimagined before.

Even nominal increases in sea levels affected by global warming can dramatically impact on fresh water resources.

Relatively small amounts of salt water can render fresh water undrinkable.

A world expert on water said the quantity of water on earth is constant, but the amount of fresh water that mankind can utilize is subsiding.

Bohol's progress goals are a shallow conclusion when water is lest supplied.

Ecotourism alone, now a tested economic sparkplug, is fueled by water sufficiency.

The livelihood-multiplying industry comes with accommodation facilities, nature parks, mountain and beach resorts, even golf course, restaurants, and other related services.
Tourism is food-extensive, and food is hardly produced without water.

Seventy percent (70%) of the world's fresh water is withdrawn and used to produce food, thereby showing how water and food are strongly linked.

The BWUI has been serious in its covenant with the Boholanos to provide water, taking into account another expert figure that 20-300 liters of water per household per day are needed for domestic uses.

Priority growth focus or investment opportunity like agri-business requires enough water.

Agri-business involves post harvest facilities, high-value crop production, fruit and meat processing, feed milling and aquaculture.

The BWUI is taking bold steps containing the impending water supply shortage because it commits to contribute to the competitiveness of Bohol, with keen sight at provincial capital Tagbilaran City.

The BWUI does not just participate in the transformation of Bohol economy.

Its corporate mission to provide water is a pledge of life. (Ven Rebo Arigo)