While residents from Barangay Pantal in Dagupan City enjoy a steady supply of tap water, they face an unusual problem — sandy water flowing during the early hours of the day.

“Kadalasan talaga sa madaling araw may kasama talagang buhangin,” Elvira Rosal, a resident, said.

Rosal's family filters water from the faucet using basins and buckets to remove the sand.

Pamana Water, the local water utility company, acknowledges this issue and has taken steps to address it.

“Nag-install tayo para masala talaga even the smallest buhangin,” Spokesperson Marj Navata said.

As of January 16, 2025, 21 out of their 24 pumping stations are equipped with sand separators, while the remaining four use sandbags as a temporary solution.

Pamana Water has also scheduled regular air scouring activities in various barangays to clean pipelines and minimize sand in the water.

“Para malinis ang mga katubuhan... we cannot control kasi ang pagsama ng buhangin kasi underground ang source natin,” Navata said.

Despite the inconvenience, Pamana Water assures customers that the water is safe for consumption.