The World's First Solar Powered Pre-paid Rural Water Supply Project
Barangay Butong, Ronda, Cebu, Philippines

WorldWater & Solar Technologies’ Aquadrive™ controller converts 2,700 watts of phototvoltaic power into three-phase AC power to drive a 5 HP submersible pump, delivering 22 cubic meters of water each day. About 1,000 inhabitants of Barangay Butong are registered users of the system with more users being added monthly.

Six (6) kilometers of pipeline conveys water to ten common water distribution points. End users draw water from WorldWater & Solar Technologies’ Aquameters™ by means of rechargeable pre-paid smart cards.

The water source is a borehole well drilled 23 meters into an underground river and an aquifer, which has a potential yield of 85 liters per second.

Water is then lifted over 70 meters of total dynamic head to a 54 cubic meter capacity storage tank which provides end users with 2.5 days of reserve capacity.

The project is a collaboration of the Municipal Government of Ronda WorldWater (Phils.) and financed by the Philippine National Bank. The initial investment for capital costs are recovered from revenues from the sale of water. The project financing package involved no special grants or subsidies. As such, it is a first of its kind model for creating cost effective, sustainable and appropriate rural water supply in remote sites.