Input-Throughput-Output Analysis of Water Resources in Sorsogon City, Philippines

Publisher: Bicol University PDF

Abstract

Water is vital in sustaining life and will become increasingly critical in the long run, considering the constant population growth and economic development of a city. The study aimed to measure the input, throughput, and output of Sorsogon City along water and sanitation. Water and sanitation data were obtained from Sorsogon City Mayor’s office and Sorsogon City Water District (SCWD) office. Data were also gathered through key informant interviews with SCWD personnel, city health officer, public health nurse, sanitary inspector, community environmental and natural resources officers, and wastewater treatment facility staff, and focus group discussions with eight barangay captains of barangays not served by SCWD and nine members of Barangay Water and Sanitation Associations. An input-throughputoutput analysis on water resources was done. SCWD and non-SCWD have annual production volume of 3,292,566 m3 /annum and 2,017,920 m3 /annum, respectively. SCWD’s billed volume was 2,370,648 m3 /annum: (domestic: 1,927,573; commercial/industrial: 301,879; institutional: 141,196) while nonSCWD domestic was 597,547.63 m3 /annum. Wastewater from household, commercial/industrial, and institutional plumbing were 2,525,120.63, 1,227.203, and 141,196 m3 /annum, respectively. The wet market and slaughterhouse wastewater treatment facilities treated 32,850 and 4,136.05 m3 /annum of wastewater respectively. Total input was 5,310,486 m3 /annum while the combined utilization and output was 6,861,715.26 m3 /annum. Their difference was 1,551,229.26 m3 /annum, which can be attributed to run-offs and leakages from pipes and connections. The input is not equal to the sum of the throughput and output of water and sanitation in Sorsogon City; hence, the city has not efficiently managed its water and sanitation resources as evidenced by partial coverage of SCWD, high system losses, absence of centralized sewerage system, and inadequate waste water treatment facility. It is therefore recommended that the city’s water management system must be periodically upgraded to minimize system losses.