A while back Bob wrote an article commenting on the low water pressure in his home in Davao City. It’s a low pressure situation . Bob’s home is at least a thousand miles from me, but he might as well live next door … it’s a very common problem living here in the Philippines … low water pressure and even not enough water in some cases.
In my subdivision, for example, we “make our own” water. The Home Owners Association (monthly dues, 30 Pesos, average home water bill about P500 per month) owns a deep well, a multi-horsepower deep well pump and a large community water tank up on 20 or 30 meter tall legs, very much the same as you would see in US towns. (the tank, by the way is proudly US made, however the legs weren’t so good, it fell down in the big Baguio earthquake of 1990 and was re-erected on top quality Australian legs). However, for various reasons (like perhaps the fact our Association’s monthly electric bill for the pump averages P 120,000, about $2550 USD at today’s rate) the water is only turned on to the users three times a day, morning, noon and supper time, for an hour or an hour and a half each “give”.
So what do people do during the other 20 or so hours a day when there’s no “Association Water”?
Well some do without … over the years they have grown used to scheduled water flow and there are jugs or buckets in the kitchen, the bath, the outside “dirty kitchen”, etc. and you use from the storage bucket if you need water before the next water “turn on” is due. Not the way I want to live, for sure. I like turning the tap and having water flow, I’m kind of set in my ways by now.
Others, (actually the majority of our 360+ members) are in the ‘water business” too. Almost every house has a water tank, you’ll see them most anywhere you go in the Philippines. they not only solve the problem of non-continuous supply, but also provide a useful back up in case of power outages (Brown Outs) and other disruptions. These tanks are readily available in cities and larger towns anywhere you travel … “Best” is one of the major brand names … they come in sizes marked in liters from a few hundred up to thousands of liters. Ours is a 500-something Liter tank, always referred to as a “three drum” tank, meaning it is approximately equivalent to three US-style 55 gallon drums.
I bought our tank when we moved in, it was about P8,000 installed on top of the roof of a little storage shed in the corner of our lot, about 7 feet above the ground. people had lived in the house for more than 25 years without a tank, I think the landlord considered the tank a very unnecessary expanse, but you know how those “kano” love to spend money 😉
This is enough for several days for us, if we use water economically. In normal operation everything is automatic, when the Association water comes on it automatically runs into the tank and a simple float valve, like a toilet tank vales, shuts it off when full. When the Association water stops, the house draws from the tank automatically, everything is tied to the same pipe.
Our tank is not mounted as high as the one in the picture, though, so like Bob’s house, there sometimes is not a lot of pressure to drive water out of the shower head at a good rate. Also, in periods of really dry weather or for reasons known only to the Directors of the Association and the security guard who turns the Association water supply valve on and off, the flow is not enough to fill our home tank.
For that we have another common Philippine household appliance, a pressure pump. It is tied into the main line coming from the water meter and if you don’t hear water going in the storage tank, it’s a simple matter to plug in the auxiliary pump and fill the tank with our little 220 volt pump (it’s about the size of a car starter motor or a half-gallon milk jug).
I also bought this pump after we moved in. Went to the plumbing supply store and picked it out, had it tested (you always test anything electrical, there is no return of defective electrical goods) and carried it home for a total of P900 including VAT. My business-wise father-in-0law thought that was a good bargain, as did I. I actually feel sorry for the many foreigners who are scared to deal with Filipino stores and vendors because they anticipate being cheated. I knew from asking many neighbors that P1,000 was a fair average for a pump like this and by dealing myself I not only made a decent deal, but made a friend of the lady who owns the pump store and also found Ed, my loyal plumber who does all the store’s installation work. I might be cheated in the future, but I feel I have done well on my Philippine dealings, people have been fair and patient with me … my biggest problem has been a Filipino merchant always trying to sell me something cheaper to try to save me money, instead of what I went to the store for. Of course, like everything else, YMMV.
I do not have the pressure pump hooked to the output of the storage tank so it feeds the shower and faucets). I threaten to do so regularly, though. It would be simple … an hour or two’s work from my plumber, Ed … he’d charge P200 or P300 for less than a half-say’s work) and a pressure switch to turn the pump on and off based on the shower or tap in the house being opened or closed. these switches are available, cheap enough, at any electrical supply store. The only reason I haven’t made the connection is I am stubborn and I have already spent enough money fixing problems with the landlord’s pipes. Maybe next month.
Take away One: You can easily get enough water pressure in the Philippines, but there might be a lot more “do it yourself” invoiced than you anticipate.
Take Away Two: Unlike typical US rental properties where people even call their landlord at 3 am because the toilet is plugged, when you rent in the Philippines, you only get a license to improve the landlord’s properly … or even fix basic issues like water and electricity … at your own expense.
Welcome to the Philippines 😉
Dave: When I first moved here, expectations of zero improvements by the landlord were what I expected, so there was no disappointment! The exception was the hole in the roof… The couldn't really wiggle away from that one, and they relented (I said, "fine… just leave it then. When the foundation rots away, my lease will be up." The crew was out to fix it that afternoon.) The kitched pipes that rusted through? That was "normal wear and tear". We were using soap that was too strong! Amazing how a pipe can rust through in 3 weeks, wouldn't you say? We must have REALLY hard water here!
Hi Dave – I have to put in a plug for my landlord. They own a hardware store, and they have a staff of engineers and workers who can fix anything. Whenever we have a problem, they have a crew out here the same day. I have never been disappointed in them when it comes to any kind of repairs. On the water pressure, I have never approached them on that, because I feel it is not a problem of their causing, rather the City simply doesn't provide enough pressure. I feel that if I were to ask them to install some kind of pressure tank or pump they would probably ask that I pay for the equipment, and they would take care of the installation. They might pay it themselves, I'd have to ask. But, my personal feeling on that is that it is not their responsibility.
Overall, though, my landlord is great.
Hee hee I like this one Dave .. I have a organic farm and I irrigate ..so i am very familiar with pumps and water systems ..i was thinking of a solar powered pump for brownouts…being sprayed with cold water and shocked at the same time ..Lots of fun …?? … I think I would like to see the soap John uses hee hee that was so funny … ::) Phil n Jess
That's the only thing that prevents me from moving back there permanently. Landlords there are 99% only interested in getting their rent on time. Hay……
Hello Dave,
I enjoyed this expanded blog on Bob's Pressure. You ahve given me much knowlege on how to at least improve a bit when I get there. But it was your last words I liked. Let the renter beware. When I was there last month Josey and I and kids and nanny rented a 3 bedroom furnished house. Well I did have to buy instant hot water for shower and refrigerator. Hot water and Refer is now with Joseys family so that is great. But first morning when it was time to use toilet I sat down on the already cracked toilet seat and it completely broke. Did not even ask landlord just went down and bought one. One week in the 6 year old closed the bedroom door and the insides feel apart. So I had to go back to hardware store and buy new one. All was ok But I also had to pay p3000 deposit for electric and water. It has been almost a month now and refund of difference has not been give. Bill has been figured yet. Now beings we only had limited water morning and night, and were not there moxt of the time, I was sure Josey would get a refund . Renter Beware. hehe
Thanks for your explanation of your water system. These kind of things interest me. I looked at some of the water tanks on display when I was in Iligan City and also noticed water pumps available at the same place. At the time I couldn't put 2 and 2 together as to why these things would be so readily available in a place with a city water system. Those tanks must have been something like polished stainless steel as they sure attracted my attention.
I do feel that I got the " Kano Price " in a couple of places but for the most when I wanted to purchase something of any significant cost I went to stores with posted prices.
I wondered why merchants seemed so eager to plug things in to show me they worked, thanks for answering that question for me………no returns, although on a couple of major appliances I bought the major appliance store I bought them from did offer their own guarantee and in home service if needed.
The only reason I can think of as to why the lack of somewhat " normal " water pressure seems to be such a normal thing in so many places there is that the systems may have once worked ok but expansion of many cities has exceeded the systems capacity and there is / was not enough funding available to cover the expansion.
Thanks again for your water system description !
I have always lived with my own well, pump, tank etc. No municipal water system in my area and I kind of like it that way.
Sorry, Roy,I dont believe your remark,would you like to respond please.Thanks.
Adding to my 1st remark to save time and coz not loving ,please forgiv me Roy.Aditional benefits,im serus 'n want to make a positve contribution.Also its 1st comment i have concerns over.Looking forward to your kind reply,thanks again.b
Hi Jerry, you don't think it's fair that I say that landlords there are only interested in getting their rents on time? I could give you a long explanation on this but I'm not even sure if that's your concern. But it is what it is. I have lived as a renter in the same apt in the Phil until I left there. When I migrated here in the US, I got myself an apt. as soon as I was able to afford it Hence I saw the difference. Here, they spend in improvements. There, or at least my landlord, do not spend in repairs. We have to distinguish if it's ordinary repairs or repairs caused by wear & tear. Roof leaks, crumbling walls, floors made of wood that have given up–we all spent for repairs on those. Here, if something is not right, you can report it to the landlord. & my landlord there had the temerity to demand 15 % increase every year because it is in the contract.
Hi Roy,nope,its "thats the 1 thing.."disingenuous, i can't help feeling,how doez carping positively con tribute?in the end i find your gravatar intimidating,not meant personally;i mention this just bcoz now might be a good time for you to clarify where you're coming from(with this "persona";becoz of my feelings and being open with you,im not sure saying its a joke suffices.(You know also that many many of your adult compatriots don't have have your priviledged literacy).Thanks so much for your time.
Hi Dave – You know, my brother-in-law lives in a sort of upper scale subdivision in Paranaque. Like you describe, they have water only during certain times of the day. Most residents in the area have big water tanks, and trucks come certain days of the week to fill them up (you have to pay, of course). Personally, I don't know if I could really fully adjust to living like that!
Hi Bob, for you spoiled Davoeños, that's Manila living for you! In my 30 years of living in Manila, I witnessed how my water tap run dry. We tried all sorts of implements. Big water receptacles, pumps, bigger pumps, water tanks, bigger water tanks so that it has reservoir. & most of our living quarters is on the second floor. So imagine, the amount of electricity we had to consume just to get the water on the 2nd flr. & imagine also the amount of networking I had to establish with my tuberos. When something is fixed, another thing gets messed up. In my frustration, a friend suggested to have my house exorcised because it seemed possessed!
I once dormed at UP Campus, another notorious place for low-water pressure (this is inaccurate because water comes at specific time) when some of DVO students who were staying for the summer broke down because of water issues. For a Manileño like me, I didn't mind washing myself in the lush garden of the dormitory. That saved me the trouble of fetching pails of water which the Davoeños did a lot.
I have unverified reports though that water can now go up the 2nd flr w/o the aid of pumps. But for the most part, my memory of Manila is just that. The only place which I experienced water gushing was in Las Piñas, BF Resort in the 80s, Pacita in San Pedro.
BTW, Bob, what's the 30,000 comment all about? 🙂
Sorry Jerry but I'm not understanding what you wrote about me. I guessed you spoke too soon about my "privileged literacy". 🙂 I can't do anything about my gravatar though. I do not think I have a "persona" that should be clarified as you said since I don't know what is it in me that I need to clarify. I just made a comment about how I do not particularly relish being a renter again in the Phil because of the kind of landlord I had the last time. If you plan to rent, be forewarned that landlords there are not as available as they are here in the US. Cheers!
@ Bob regarding your good landlord. In deed you have one to treasure there. My guy (who liuves in the US log-term BTW … American goes to live in the Philippines and rents from a Filipino who went to live in the US … seems like there's something strange there, doesn't it? LoL) is perhaps not as bad as I may make him sound, but he works through a neighbor here who is very hard to convince that anything needs fixing.
Also i value the neighbor's friendship in other ways, so I never go running to him with every little thing … there's a balance in life as we all know … or learn.
As far as the water in Paranaque (that's the area that adjoins Manila airport on the south for those who aren't familiar), there are a number of large subdivisions there that never were able to get adequate water in places before the homes were built. It's a problem indeed. Baguio is plagued with many subdivisions in the same boat. Because of poor planning or in some cases, family fueds and such, there are houses all over the Philippines that don't have water and are unlikely to get 'real' water sources any time soon.
I did see this week that San Miguel is planning a huge hydro-electric dam and water supply project for Metro Manila … hope they are able to get the numbers right and make it work becuase both water and electricity are problematic in many areas.
I'm fortunate our little home owner's association stayed 'alive' and took the initiative to keep our little system going here, becuase unlike folks in the US are used to, it is seldom, if ever, a municipal function to get water to homes. We have anuber of folks here in this subdivision who are disconnected becuase of outstanding bills or have refused to get connected for 20 years or more who still have the water truck come by every day or so. That's one of those sideline busiensses noone ever thinks of, the economics are such you could fill the truck at retail rates and still make about 10x profit selling it a barrel at a time.
Hi Roy – I think that just having water available is a must, at least for me! If I'm spoiled, so be it!
As for the 30,000th comment… I mean exactly what I said. Earlier on my article, when you left a comment, it was the 30,000th comment left on this site! The milestone that I wrote about on Monday. You are the one who left that comment!
Roy,
QC water pressure is great now. My sister put up a water tank when they first moved into their new house some 23 years ago and it's now sitting idle in their backyard. Privatization worked wonderfully.
Hi Mita,
That would be a sight. UP Campus is almost not UP Dilliman w/o their water tanks. In Manila too, I have a unverified reports that water pressure has improved. Hopefully that's true.
Thanks for the update!