In 2003, Butong, a Cebu Island village in the Philippines, acquired a solar-powered, pre-paid, water supply pumping and distribution system. According to WorldWater & Solar Technologies Corp, which developed the system, this was the first time such a system has been installed.

The system converts 2,700 watts of photovoltaic power into three-phase AC power to drive a 5 HP submersible pump, delivering 22 cubic metres of water per day to ten common water distribution points serving some 1,000 users. Water is drawn from a borehole well drilled 23 metres into an underground river and an aquifer. It is then pumped to a 54 cubic metre storage tank. End users draw water from Aquameters™ by means of rechargeable pre-paid smart cards (Aquacards™).

Payment for the 7-year loan, which was provided by the Philippine National Bank (PNB), comes solely from the proceeds of AquaCard™ sales. The AquaCards™ can be bought and recharged at the municipal hall. The business model used is based on full cost-recovery, without any subsidies or grants. Since the system has been installed, the price of water has gone down from 10 pesos (16 euro cents) to 3 pesos (5 euro cents) per 20 litres.

See a Channel News Asia TV video on the project here

Related news: Smart cards: cost recovery solution for rural water systems in Philippines, Source Weekly, 1 Jul 2002

See also: WASH Helpdesk – Pre-paid water systems

Contact: WorldWater & Solar Technologies Corp., USA, sales@worldwater.com, http://www.worldwater.com/ ; WorldWater (Philippines Inc.), fax: +63.2-6312667

Source: Cezar Tigno, ADB, Oct 2007 : WorldWater & Solar Technologies Corp – Aquameter

Tags: financing, water distribution, water lifting devices