PrimeWater Bacolod issued an apology on Thursday, August 7, for the dirty water coming out of residents’ faucets and assured the public that work is being done to resolve the problem.
“PrimeWater Bacolod has received reports of water discoloration in Barangays Alijis, Sum-ag, Tangub, and nearby areas. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience,” the company said in a press statement.
The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod had unanimously approved a resolution on Wednesday, August 6, urgently requesting BACIWA-PrimeWater to immediately address widespread complaints of dark, foul-smelling, and contaminated water.
The resolution, authored by Councilor Caesar Distrito, called on the water utility to provide a public report detailing the cause of the problem, the remedial measures being taken, and long-term solutions to this recurring issue.
According to PrimeWater, the water discoloration incident was a result of its “water balancing initiatives.”
“Ongoing efforts are made to enhance water distribution and service reliability across Bacolod. This technical process involves regulating and adjusting pressure and flow across the network to ensure a more equitable supply,” the company explained.
On August 4, an initial valve adjustment was carried out to improve water availability in portions of southern Bacolod, it said.
To resolve the situation, PrimeWater said that flushing operations are being carried out nightly to restore water quality, and further valve adjustments in the area have been temporarily suspended.
“PrimeWater remains committed to providing reliable and safe water to our consumers. We appreciate the public’s understanding as we work to resolve this issue and enhance our operations,” the company added.
Distrito called the situation a “contaminated water crisis,” emphasizing that it is no longer just a service issue but a serious public health concern.
There had been a surge of complaints of dark, foul-smelling water from numerous barangays, including Taculing, Singcang, Sum-ag, Mansilingan, Banago, Cabug, Pahanocoy, Tangub, Alijis, Bata, and almost all numbered barangays, Distrito said.*