The city government continues to enhance water use and conservation efforts with the acquisition of P90 million from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the construction of a rainwater harvesting facility within the Camp 8 watershed along Kennon Road.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the fund was committed to be released by DBM Secretary Wendel Avisado. Magalong said the facility will effectively and efficiently address the impending water shortage in the Summer Capital.
The water harvesting facility will serve as an additional water containment area, a long term solution to the threat of water shortage caused by the depletion of the existing water sources aggravated by the increasing number of illegal deep wells operating in the different parts of the city.
However, Magalong cited the rainwater harvesting facility in Busol was damaged by Typhoon Ompong in September 2018. According to him, the city faces tight water supply in the next three months thus, the need for residents to cooperate with the implementation of water reuse and conservation initiatives.
Based on the report of BWD officials, the water level at the Mount Sto. Tomas rain water harvesting facility is only 1.75 meters which is way below its usual level of 5 meters while some of the district’s available sources at Gibraltar are already dried up for the first time in the history of their operation.
The mayor expressed optimism that the contractor and the public works department could immediately repair the damaged rainwater harvesting facility in Busol so that the same could be already used during the rainy season.
At present, there are established rain water harvesting facilities in Mount Sto. Tomas and Busol watershed following the completion of these projects several years ago.
Magalong disclosed that the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) has approved in principle the long overdue clamor of the local government to be informed of any application for the establishment of deep wells in the city so that appropriate interventions could be done to oppose these to prevent its projected negative impact to the overall water supply here.
With additional reports, Gaby Keith, The Manila Times; Zaldy Comanda, www.mb.com.ph
Photo Sources: baguiowaterdistrict.gov.ph
