After its rehabilitation for more than one year, the Sto. Tomas Rain Basin (STRB) resumed operation last June 2018.
The rain water catchment facility managed and operated by the Baguio Water District was temporarily mothballed in March, 2017.
The improvement project amounted to a total of Php92 million funded from the Departmoent of Public Works and Highways’ General Appropriations Fund. Its holding capacity was improved from 592,655 cubic meters of water to 700,000 cubic meters once filled to the brim.
With the completion of the project, BWD General Manager Engr. Salvador M. Royeca, is confidence that the facility will effectively address the gap of water supply and demand in the next few years.
In Royeca’s accomplishment report presented during the 43rd BWD anniversary celebration held last July 11, 2018, he emphasized the importance of carrying out the various BWD development programs designed to improve the water supply in the city.
The BWD top official stated the proposed development projects target not only to address the growing demand of its consumers but likewise to continuously achieve better efficiency in its operation and of its facilities.
The four-decade old facility currently supplies more than 6,000 households in Baguio including parts of Tuba, Benguet.
Among the major work undertaken are the improvement of dikes, concreting of walls and basin floor, installation of new pipelines and fencing of the premises.
This is the second time the facility underwent major rehabilitation after the 1990 earthquake or until BWD, under Royeca’s watch, secured sufficient funding for the project back in 2016.
For 2018, records show that BWD has a daily supply capability of 42,587m3 compared to the 46,062m3 actual daily demand from all active connections and to the 65,082m3 demand from the total population.
Other rain water catchment facilities are being constructed within the Busol watershed, while six more drilling explorations are set to be completed within the next two years. **Mark Victor Pasagoy
