City officials recently encouraged the residents in the city’s one hundred twenty-eight barangays to adopt the proposed rainwater harvesting system designs by the Baguio Water District (BWD) as a means of storing water for residential and commercial establishments.
Under Resolution No. 572, series of 2023, local legislators stated that BWD general manager Engr. Salvador M. Royeca, in his letter dated September 5, 2023, transmitted to the local legislative body for perusal the proposed designs for various rainwater harvesting systems for residential, school, office buildings, and commercial establishments operating in the different parts of the city.
The council claimed that the proposed designs are feasible technology to meet the increasing need for water in the city.
The body admitted that the city faces a looming water crisis because of the booming population triggered by rapid in-migration, thus, alternative solutions must be practiced to meet the growing demand for water such as the proposed put up of rainwater harvesting in residential and commercial establishments in the city.
According to the resolution, rainwater harvesting provides a source of water at the point where it is needed.
Further, it provides an essential reserve in times of emergency and/or breakdown of public water supply systems, particularly during the occurrence of natural disasters.
The council pointed out that rainwater harvesting captures, diverts and stores rainwater from rooftops for later use.
Moreover, typical uses of rainwater include landscape irrigation, wash applications, ornamental pond and foundation filling, cooling tower make-up water and toilet and urinal flushing.
The council emphasized that harvesting water can provide a source of alternative water to facilities and that alternative waters are sustainable sources of water, not supplied by fresh surface water or groundwater, that offset the demand for fresh water.
