Solar-powered water system to serve Legazpi brgy

By Cet Dematera

The Legazpi City government has formally opened on Wednesday, July 28, a solar-powered water system that will serve some 3,700 households in Banquerohan, a southern barangay that is not served by the existing local water distributor Legazpi City Water District (LCWD).

Legazpi City Mayor Noel E. Rosal said that the facilities that could draw potable water at 312 liters per minute have a total cost of P8 million that included already the distribution lines.

Rosal said the submersible pump is being powered by 32 solar panels and drawing water as deep as 280 feet.

“At last this water system has been realized to serve the residents of Barangay Banquerohan because this place is not yet served by LCWD. And this water is potable,” Rosal added.

POTABLE WATER Mayor Noel Rosal (center), City Engineer Clemente Ibo (left) and Councilor Vince Baltazar inspect the newly installed main faucet of the solar-powered water system in Banquerohan, Legazpi City.

He said because of their distance from the LCWD distribution lines, villages in the southern portion of Legazpi, including Banquerohan, are not yet served with potable water.

“Residents here are sourcing out potable water through their installed pitcher pumps or fetch water elsewhere,” Rosal said.

He said they already pre-identified villages in Legazpi with abundant sources of potable water for installation of similar solar-powered water facilities.

Rosal said his administration is now prioritizing establishment of water facilities to avoid water crisis in the coming years.

With over 200,000 people living in this city at present, there is no doubt that water crisis could be a serious concern if no additional water sources will be tapped and developed for household use, Rosal added.

Currently, Philhydro is the lone supplier of potable water of LCWD.