With its Water Safety Plan rated excellent by the Department of Health, the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project (DCBWSP) helps assure Dabawenyos that their drinking water supply is safe and dependable.
DAVAO CITY — The Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project (DCBWSP) has earned an Excellent Rating of 95.17% following the renewal and acceptance of its Water Safety Plan (WSP), reinforcing the project’s continuous commitment to maintaining safe and reliable treated bulk water for Davao City.
Achieving an excellent rating from the Department of Health (DOH) – Davao Center for Health Development, indicates that the project has demonstrated a high level of compliance with WSP requirements, including identifying and managing risks, monitoring water quality, and maintaining proper treatment protocols.
Submitted to the DOH for review, the project’s WSP was formally accepted in accordance with DOH Administrative Order No. 2017-0006, or the Guidelines for the Review and Approval of the Water Safety Plans of Drinking-Water Service Providers. The Certificate of WSP Acceptance was issued on May 20, 2026.
The DCBWSP, a public-private partnership between the Davao City Water District (DCWD) and Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc. (Apo Agua) is guided by this WSP to identify and manage risks to water quality throughout the treatment, testing, and delivery of surface water from the Tamugan River to DCWD. Simply put, the WSP provides a system to prevent water-quality problems before they happen. DCBWSP’s WSP excellent rating reflects the project’s strong measures to ensure safe and quality water every day.
Because of this excellent rating from the DOH, Dabawenyos can be assured that the treated bulk water supplied to DCWD is subject to strong safeguards for water quality. This means more people can have reliable drinking water at home, reducing the need to get water from other sources or rely on water deliveries. It also means less time and money spent getting water, leaving more for other important needs.
Reliable Water Empowers Communities
This is already being felt in the Panacan Relocation, where residents once relied on water deliveries and stored drums now have a more consistent water supply direct from the tap since the DCBWSP began operations.
Long-time resident Gerry Dagatan recalled the challenged they faced before the improved supply, when families had to fetch water and purchase separate water for drinking. Today, he said, water is readily available from their taps.
“Karon, sa gripo na gyud tanan. Usahay imnon pa gani. Mas lami pa sa distilled water, bugnaw pa,” Dagatan said. (Now, everything comes from the tap. Sometimes, we even drink it directly [from the tap]. It tastes better than distilled water, and it’s cold too)
For resident Grace Olacao, the improvement has likewise changed how her household gets its drinking water. “Karon limpyo na gyud. Wa na ko nag-mineral water. Gripo na ko diretso,” she said. (Now, the water is really clean. I no longer buy mineral water. I drink directly from the tap)
These community experiences underscore the importance of maintaining not only a reliable water supply but also strong safeguards for water quality throughout the bulk water supply process.
With a capacity of 300 million liters per day (MLD), the DCBWSP provides treated surface water to DCWD and contributes to diversifying and strengthening Davao City’s water supply sources as the city continues to grow.
The project’s improved WSP assessment demonstrates its continuing commitment to strengthening water safety practices and maintaining high standards for the quality of treated bulk water supplied to Davao City.
Through the DCBWSP, continued attention to water quality and safety supports the shared goal of providing Dabawenyos with a safe, reliable, and sustainable water supply.
