Population growth has resulted in the demand for and consumption of freshwater to increase significantly in recent years. This increase has led to the over-extraction and exhaustion of freshwater resources, leading to potential and irreversible saline intrusion that contaminates the groundwater currently being used to supply water for the general population.

Groundwater depletion has been getting worse by the year. While there are several areas in the province that use surface water resources, a significant part of the province of Cavite uses groundwater resources. The overexploitation of groundwater resources has resulted in a depleted water table because the demand has outgrown the level of natural groundwater recharge. If groundwater remains the only water supply resource, water districts will need to shut down their current facilities and find new sources of water.

The problem of groundwater over extraction is further compounded by global climatic changes that affect the rainfall needed to recharge groundwater sources.   If no action is taken to solve this problem, water deficit could be a significant problem of the country in the very near future. The situation is alarming because sea water will shortly end up irreversibly contaminating the groundwater sources.

Maragondon Water District, through its then-General Manager Manuel Angeles, has taken the initiative of finding alternative water sources to help recharge its groundwater resources.  The water district conducted a pre-feasibility study regarding the use of the Maragondon River as a major water resource in the province of Cavite.  This was followed by a feasibility study by French company Seureca, which was provided to Maragondon Water District under a grant by the French government.  This study further proved the potential of the Maragondon River as a major water source not just for Maragondon but for a significant portion of the province of Cavite.

With a capacity of 200 million liters per day, the Maragondon River can be used as a major water source by the various water districts in Cavite. With the use of the river as a water source, the many groundwater sources that are being used by these water districts can be given time to recharge and thereby avoid saline intrusion in their wells.

Groundwater pumping interruptions, when surface water is available, will induce a rise in the water levels. When surface water is not available or in limited quantity, groundwater levels will resume decreasing but from higher levels. This means that the water levels will not drop below the present levels (at least, of course, as long as groundwater extraction remains under control, as the water demand increases).

The end of the continuous lowering of the water levels will have several positive effects:

The productivity of existing wells will stop falling and it will be possible to restart some wells currently out of service due to insufficient depth.
Sand intrusions will decrease as the water levels rise and less rehabilitation work will be necessary.

Timeline

2009  

• Feasibility Study Conducted by Seureca, as funded by the French Economic Department

2011  

• Submission of Unsolicited Proposal and Signing of Joint Venture Agreement with WBS Consortium

2014  

• Public Hearings Conducted at Maragondon Town Plaza, Bucal II and Tulay B
• Endorsement of Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Cavite
• Endorsement of Sangguniang Bayan of Maragondon
• Signing of Memorandum of Agreement between MWD and LGU-Maragondon on Profit Sharing for the Bulk Water Supply Project

2015  

• Endorsement from the Regional Development Council, included in the Revalidated Regional Development Investment Plan 2011-2016

2016 

• Environmental Compliance Certificate from DENR

2017

• Public Hearing at Tulay A
• Developmental Permit from LGU-Maragondon
• Ground Breaking Ceremony for the Water Treatment Facility

Related articles on the Bulk Water Supply Project can be found here.