AUTHOR=Magwilang Epiphania B. , Paredes Annie Lourie Yawan , Armas Francisco C. , Bugnay Helen Grace P. , Dagupen Rose D. 

TITLE=Challenges faced by the municipal water works management in improving water supply adequacy and distribution in Bontoc, Philippines

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Water

VOLUME=Volume 5 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/water/articles/10.3389/frwa.2023.1212361

DOI=10.3389/frwa.2023.1212361

ISSN=2624-9375

ABSTRACT=Domestic water is inevitably significant for daily use. However, the management of water supply is faced with various challenges affecting household consumers. It is the aim of this study to identify the challenges contributing to supply inadequacy and its uneven distribution alongside interventions relevant to improving water supply for households. Surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions were conducted to gather data for the study. Findings show that the inadequacy of supply and its inequitable distribution are two major problems in the rural communities of Bontoc, Philippines. Various factors contribute to these problems. Supply inadequacy is attributed to serious factors such as the wasteful use and misuse of water, water inadequacy during the prolonged dry season, limited water sources, and population growth. Factors leading to the uneven distribution of supply were likewise identified such as landslides, illegal tapping, irregular water quality, quantity, and pressure 2 monitoring, and inappropriateness of water distribution network layout. Study findings also suggest that the augmentation of water sources, regular water supply monitoring, timely repair, changing of old pipes, improvement of distribution pipeline layout and water pressure, strict implementation of the municipal water ordinance, regular monitoring of supply distribution, and utilization of water technologies are deemed significant actions that the local government unit of Bontoc must consider. In the same manner, respondents perceived that households must practice efficient water management such as responsible consumption, supply conservation, and recycling. These interventions, if efficiently implemented by the LGU with the cooperation of households, may contribute to the improvement of supply management by alleviating the current constraints in the domestic water supply and its distribution.