The Baguio Water District (BWD) called on residents to put up their own simple rainwater catchment facilities in their respective homes to help in addressing possible water shortage during the height of the El Nino phenomenon and for future uses.
BWD general manager Engr. Salvador M. Royeca said that the presence of rain water catchment facilities in residences will also help in allowing the water district to reduce the operation of some of its deep wells for them to recharge and ensure the steady supply of water during the expected prolonged dry spell.
He pointed out that residents can help in ensuring the steady supply of water even during the dry season by practicing water conservation strategies with the put up of their respective rainwater catchment facilities to store water for their basic household activities such as watering the plants, washing and for flushing their toilets which will lessen their dependence on the water supply from the district.
The BWD official stipulated that it is also necessary for the government to put up additional rainwater catchment facilities in strategic areas around the city that will help in augmenting the water supply from the district’s existing water sources whenever there will be the need, especially during the expected prolonged dry spell caused by the predicted El Nino phenomenon.
According to him businesses must also have their own rainwater catchment facilities in their respective establishments to allow them to have alternative sources of water and to prevent them from being too dependent on the water district for their water requirements.
The biggest rainwater catchment facility of the BWD is the Sto. Tomas rainwater basin which has a capacity of more than 700,000 cubic meters of water.
Further, one of the three rainwater catchment basins in the Busol watershed is now serving its purpose while the two others are still undergoing construction by the public works department.
Royeca claimed that currently, the BWD will be using the water from the Sto. Tomas rainwater basin as augmentation when its existing water sources will not be able to provide the supply for its consumers in the coming months.
However, he advised the residents to make sure that their rain catchment facilities are well covered to prevent these from becoming the breeding ground of dengue-carrying mosquitoes that might be the source of the deadly illness in their neighborhood.
Royeca urged the public to help in conserving water in their homes so that the district’s water sources will not be depleted. That might cause more problems for them when the El Nino phenomenon will be at its height by the end of this year which is expected to extend up to early next year.
Royeca expressed hope that the water district can hurdle the expected heavy impact of the El Nino phenomenon to the city’s water supply with the support and cooperation of the residents and visitors alike, especially to their adherence to water conservation efforts.
