The Provincial Development Council (PDC) identified a solution to the twin problems of scarce supply of potable water and high cost of electricity that are feared to hamper development of Bohol’s tourism capital, the Panglao Island.
To address the problems, the PDC endorsed the proposed water desalination facility in Dauis, one of the two municipalities in Panglao Island, which will utilize partly of renewable energy.
Boheco-1 is providing the power supply in the area, “but the proposed project [will use] solar panels during daytime operation”.
“It can be seen that the twin problems of inadequate water supply and high power rates will greatly hinder the future development of the island,” according to Engr. Oscar Nistal, the municipal planning and development coordinator of Dauis.
As of now, the lot for the project site in barangay San Isidro, Dauis is still to be acquired by the local government unit of Dauis, but negotiation with the private lot owner is ongoing.
The project will cover an area of 5,298 square meters.
“The proposed project site is accessible from a national road and adjacent to a barangay road,” Nistal added.
The PDC Execom tackled the project during its meeting on September 8.
Panglao island is facing a severe water shortage where the supply of fresh and potable water is not enough to meet the needs of the locals and businesses.
“This problem has been a source of constant complaints from its irate residents,” Nistal said.
Aside from the problem on water supply, the high cost of electricity also besets the tourist island where the current electric tariff rate is as high as P12 per kwh compared to only P8-9 per kwh in Manila.
Residents and establishments in the island have to bear daily with the problem on the absence of water distribution line in the area.
A set of 2,000 tons per day new energy powered smart micro-grid desalination equipment will not be fully dependent on the power supply from the grid as its main power supply will come from renewable energy.
This is a way to spare the operation of the project from the high electricity rates in the island while also protecting the environment.
It was proposed that the LGU of Dauis will manage the project.
“At present, five barangays manage their own waterworks system which is dependent on ground water sources and seven barangays are dependent on the bulk water supply being provided by the Bohol Water Utilities, Inc. (BWUI which is still insufficient,” Nistal also noted.
The project will employ a photovoltaic (PV) power of electricity generation which will be matched with micro-grid system and adopts reverse osmosis technology to desalinate seawater.
It is projected to have daily capacity of 2,000 tons and the system can sustain 24-hour operation.
It is assured that the yielded water meets the standards for drinking water in the Philippines.
It will utilize a new energy smart micro-grid control technology that will “provide stable electricity to the desalination system” wherein “the PV power generation system will be responsible for power supply at daytime”.
“In the case that solar resource is sufficient, the coupling of PV power generation system and energy storage system can ensure the continuous operation of desalination system for about 10-12 hours in general,” Nistal added.