Palawan water shortage addressed

DESALINATION PLANT The reverse osmosis desalination facility on Green Island in Roxas, Palawan, stands as a vital lifeline for the island community as it converts seawater into potable water. Built in late 2020, the facility provides a sustainable drinking water supply to residents who previously struggled with water scarcity. PHOTO BY KAISER JAN FUENTES

The pipeline connects the mainland to outlying islands, while the desalination facility converts seawater into safe drinking water.

These projects represent a major step toward sustainable and reliable access to drinking water.

For decades, island communities faced severe water shortages and residents usually rely on rainwater collection, shallow wells or expensive deliveries from the mainland, which have become more challenging during the dry season.

Among the most affected were the residents of Shell, Johnson's and Green Islands.

In response, Palawan Water invested in advanced infrastructure to provide a continuous and affordable supply.

This new system not only reduces dependence on unreliable deliveries but also significantly improves the quality of life for island residents.

Undersea pipeline

Before the installation of the submerged pipeline, residents of Shell and Johnson's Islands struggled to have drinking water. Many islanders had to take their small boats to the mainland, fill containers at public wells or buy from water refilling stations and transport them back to the island, which is an exhausting and expensive routine.

During stormy weather, when boat trips became too dangerous, communities were forced to ration their water, making daily life even more challenging.

To address these hardships, Palawan Water installed its first undersea pipeline in March 2020, directly connecting the islands to the Sandoval River water system and ensuring a more stable water supply.

According to Marvin Jason Igna, waterworks superintendent of Palawan Water, the project was both ambitious and technically challenging.

"We had to carefully plan how to lay the pipes underwater while ensuring durability against strong currents and potential damage," Igna said.

The installation process involved deploying a specialized raft with rods and drums to float the pipes, which were then pulled across the seabed using a boat. To keep them stable, the team placed concrete sinkers at regular intervals, securing the pipeline firmly underwater.

The system now provides fresh potable water to 54 households on Shell Island and 85 on Johnson's Island, eliminating their dependency on expensive boat deliveries.

Each household receives water at the same rate as those on the mainland — P260 for the minimum charge of 10 cubic meters, or roughly 50 drums of wa-ter.

To maintain the integrity of the undersea pipeline, Palawan Water conducts regular monitoring and preventive maintenance. While the system has re-mained largely durable, divers remain on standby for any necessary repairs.

Purok leader Gregorio Gabo, 55, of Sitio Cabugan in Barangay 1 on Shell Island, told reporters that since moving to the island in 2000 after his teacher wife was assigned there, they had no direct access to water until the project's completion.

"Napakahirap po. Mawalan ka ng ilaw, huwag lang 'yung tubig (It's very difficult. You can lose electricity, just not water)," he said, adding that it was always a strain to travel miles just to get potable water.

Seawater into drinking water

While the undersea pipeline provided a breakthrough for some islands, Palawan Water found it unsuitable for Sitio Green Island in Barangay Tumarbong on Green Island due to its distance from the mainland and lack of a nearby river source.

Instead, they turned to reverse osmosis desalination, a cutting-edge method for producing potable water. To ensure a sustainable drinking water supply, they built a desalination facility in late 2020.

The process starts by extracting seawater from a 3-meter-deep well, followed by multiple filtration stages. A high-pressure pump then forces the filtered water through a semipermeable membrane, separating freshwater from concentrated seawater.

This process produces clean, drinkable water that meets quality standards for human consumption.

The facility generates 15 cubic meters or 15,000 liters of potable water daily and operates for about 10 hours per day. It directly supplies water to 78 house-holds, while around 150 other residents rely on water dispensers.

However, desalination requires a large amount of energy. The facility currently runs on diesel-powered generators, increasing operational costs. To improve sustainability, Palawan Water is exploring solar energy integration.

Residents pay 83 centavos per liter or P16 per 20-liter jug, significantly reducing the cost compared to transporting water from the mainland. Previously, families spent more on boat transport and refilling fees, making water a major household expense.

Environmental considerations

Despite the clear benefits of desalination, concerns remain about its potential impact on marine biodiversity. The process discharges concentrated seawater, or brine, back into the ocean, which, if not managed properly, can affect marine ecosystems.

Palawan Water has taken measures to minimize environmental risks by ensuring that no harmful chemicals are used and that the brine dispersal system follows regulatory guidelines.

As climate change and prolonged dry spells continue to threaten freshwater resources in the country, Palawan Water sees desalination technology as a via-ble long-term solution.

"Rivers and deep wells can dry up, but seawater is always abundant," Igna said, saying, "Reverse osmosis desalination can be the key to addressing water shortages, especially in coastal communities."

The Green Island desalination facility, which cost around P15 million to build, continues to expand. Pa-lawan Water is assessing more islands for similar systems, focusing on energy efficiency through re-newables.