ILOILO – For months now, residents of Deca Homes residential subdivision in Barangay Jibao-an, Pavia town have been complaining about the quality of water being supplied by BP Waterworks, Inc.
“Naga-penetensya kami kay kahigku sang ila tubig,” according to a 62-year-old male homeowner at the subdivision’s Phase 3.
In the three years that he has been living in the subdivision, he said, the poor quality of water flowing from the faucets of various households has been a constant concern.
“Ginakilis namon sa bugas mineral water na lang. Maski gina-toothbrush, mineral water na eh,” said the resident.
BP Waterworks’ water, on the other hand, is “hanggang panglaba lang,” he lamented.
But even using the water for laundry is problematic, he hastened to add.
“Ginabutangan gid Zonrox nga damo para indi magpula-pula ang amon mga bayo,” he said.
Homeowners have long brought the problem to the attention of BP Waterworks and the subdivision’s management and they wondered why the water always passed the quality check or test. They found this hard to believe.
Now, the homeowners are calling for an independent third party to check the water quality.
According to this subdivision resident that Panay News interviewed, BP Waterworks appeared to be doing regular maintenance of their tank but the problem seemed to be recurring.
From what he had gathered, the resident said, a deep well is BP Waterworks’ main source of water for Phase 3 of the subdivision.
Just this July 1, residents came up with a petition addressed to BP Waterworks demanding better service.
The water supplier, indeed, cleaned its water pipes and tank but the problem returned after a few weeks.
“Ginlimpyohan nila pero still ang naggwa nga tubig brown gid ya,” he lamented.
Another resident this paper interviewed, a 32-year-old father who has a two-year-old child, said, “Ang akon concern indi consistent ang ila tubig (quality). Indi ko basta-basta paligoan ang bata kay basi makainum kag basi maglupot.”
His child was hospitalized in July due to diarrhea. He believed it had something to do with the water.
“May panahon nga puerte ka-brown, tapos kahapon puerte man kaputi. Ti makibot ka nga-a amo ni man,” he said.
“Dapat maayo man ila performance kay sakto man amon bayad sa ila,” he added.
Mayor Lawrence Anthony Gorriceta of Pavia told Panay News he had called the attention of BP Waterworks several times and even held a meeting with the water distributor’s officials and subdivision homeowners.
He recalled BP Waterworks officials assuring residents they would address the concern.
Gorriceta learned that BP Waterworks’ water supply contract with the subdivision will end in 2021 yet.
The mayor also said he once ordered the Rural Health Unit (RHU) of Pavia to test BP Waterworks’ water and the result showed it with no presence of bacteria.
But with the problem appearing to be persistent, he suggested that homeowners secure water samples and right away ask the RHU to test them, or seek other water quality testers and bring the results to him for appropriate action.
Gorriceta also reminded BP Waterworks to conduct regular maintenance of its water distribution facilities./PN
