MNWD History

The original water-supply system of Metro Naga was conceived and constructed in 1929 by the late Camarines Sur Gov. Ramon B. Felipe, Sr. It consisted initially of a total of 53.852 kilometers of transmission and distribution pipelines supplying Naga City, with Rumangrap Spring at Brgy. Curry, Municipality of Pili as the main source. In 1959, the Anayan Spring in Brgy. Curry, also in Pili, was utilized as the second main water source of the system. Subsequently, the water pipelines were extended to the municipalities of Magarao, Camaligan and Canaman in 1963, 1967 and 1977, respectively. The Prieto Pumping Station was added to the system in 1967 to boost for Camaligan, while Canaman and Baras Pumping Stations were completed in 1977 and 1978 primarily to supply Canaman and Magarao.

Initially, the water system was administered by the local government under the District Engineers’ Office, but then the waterworks were nationalized, its administration was passed on to the National Waterworks & Sewerage Authority (NAWASA) and later on to the Metropolitan Waterworks & Sewerage System (MWSS) under a Waterworks District Engineer (WDE). The WDE covered the areas under Camarines Norte Metropolitan Waterworks (Capalonga, Labo, Jose Panganiban, Paracale, Talisay, Vinzons and Daet) and Camarines Sur Metropolitan Waterworks (Sipocot, Libmanan-Cabusao, Tigaon-Sangay, Camaligan, Canaman, Magarao and Naga City). With the formation of Camarines Norte Water District in the early 70’s, however, only the Camarines Sur Waterworks remained under the supervision of said WDE.

Sometime in August 1979, the Metropolitan Naga Water District (MNWD) was organized pursuant to Resolution No. 39,s. 1979 approved by the Naga City Council last June 9, 1979. Breathing its corporate life, the MNWD undertook its public responsibility with only 35 employees to service some 2,259 service connections in Naga City and suburbs. The first Board of Directors, as appointed by then City Mayor Vicente P. Sibulo, was composed by Atty. Mariano M. Sibulo representing the Professional Sector as Chairman; Dr. Ramon I. Ursua representing the Civic Sector as Vice Chairman; Mrs. Isabelita Lazaro representing the Women Sector as Treasurer and Secretary; the late Mr. Luis Recato Dy representing the Business Sector as Treasurer; and Fr. Jose Ma. Fuentes representing the Education Sector as Member, Engr. Jaime O. Fortuno was the first appointed General Manager.

The year 1982 brought a new general manager to the water district in the person of the late Mr. Luis D. Basa. In said year until 1984, the MNWD undertook the 15.8 M Interim Improvement Project (IIP) Phase I, with the Ateneo Pumping Station rehabilitated and some 6.055 kms. of transmission lines and 17.942 kms. of distribution lines installed. Added to this was the installation of some gate valves for emergency repairs and proper distribution of water pressure. A modern water analysis laboratory was also constructed from said project fund.

With the implementation of the Interim Improvement Project in 1985-86, the system was expanded with the installation of additional 9.76 kms. distribution pipeline. In 1985, the San Felipe I Pumping Station was constructed as additional water source of the MNWD to meet the increasing demand for water by its service area. This was followed by the construction of San Felipe II and Villa Sorabella I Pumping Stations in 1993; Mabolo and Capilihan Pumping Stations in 1994; Sitio Magdalena Pumping Stations in 1995 and the San Felipe III Pumping Station in 1997, the last two pumping stations being part of the unfinished P 142.5 M ADB-assisted Municipal Water System Improvement Project (MWSIP).

The onslaught to the water supply brought by the long dry spell of the El Niño phenomenon between the last quarter of 1997 until the 3rd quarter of 1998 compelled the MNWD to explore for more water sources and constructed two more exploratory production wells at Villa Sorabella Subdivision at Brgy. Concepcion Grande and Brgy. Cararayan, and another pumping station in Brgy. Pacol. The year 1999 also saw the completion of one more production deep well in Brgy. Carolina and another pumping station in Brgy. Del Rosario.

With the transfer of the MNWD water supply from the MWSIP to the P 40M ADB-LWUA Small Towns Water Supply Sector Project (STWSSP) in 2002, the MNWD constructed four more production wells in Brgys. San Isidro, Cararayan and Pacol, all within Naga City and Brgy. Carangcang, Municipality of Magarao, bringing a total of 16 operational pumping stations in a row.

The MNWD covered a total of 41, 353 active service connections with an estimated 206, 050 population as of October 2014, efficiently being served by its 139 permanent and 40 casual employees as of October 2014. As its operation continue to expand, the MNWD is now operating three (3) spring water sources with two (2) more undergoing development and twenty-five (25) operational pumping stations. A total of 90kms. of transmission lines and 5, 496 kms. of distribution/lateral lines were already installed as of this date.