The Department of Environment and Natural Resources said there is a need to intensify promotion of rain harvesting methods, including catching rainwater through house gutters or “alulod” for non-potable household use, to help avert potential serious water shortage in the next few years.
The DENR made the proposal during the conclusion of the series of meetings in preparation for a multisectoral water summit later this year.
The pre-summit meetings were geared toward developing a national water roadmap to be presented to President Rodrigo Duterte during the actual summit.
At the final pre-summit meeting at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Pasig City last week, Corazon Davis, DENR assistant secretary for Policy and Planning Service, said the department, through the National Water Resources Board, was committed to coming up with strategic solutions to the country’s looming water crisis.
“Although the Philippines is known for its abundant water resources, we are now experiencing scarcity of water due to rapid urbanization, increasing population, indiscriminate use and management of waste, and water pollution,” Davis said.
She said one of the practical and reliable methods DENR officials used at home was the “alulod” water collection system.
Under this traditional system, people harvest rainwater by simply placing a drum or basin at the end of the roof’s gutter drain pipe or downspout for domestic uses like flushing the toilet, watering the garden, and washing clothes. It does not cover water supply for drinking, food preparation, or personal hygiene.
“Modern Filipino homes may be worth re-designing using ‘alulods’ again. During the old days, the old folks used the ‘alulod’ to collect rainwater and divert it into the ‘banga’ or the ‘tapayan’ [clay jars] where it is stored for future use,” said Davis.
This proposal is consistent with one of the recommendations during the pre-summit meetings, which is to ensure increased rainwater harvesting through strong and innovative government regulations.
Examples of these regulations are the introduction of a new provision in the Building Code that would require rainwater harvesting systems for new buildings, and mandating all government offices to use only water-efficient structures like waterless urinals and shower facilities, which will catch the used water for re-channeling functions like toilet flushing.
NWRB Executive Director Sevillo David Jr., meanwhile, said there is a need to review the government’s water catchment strategies.
“We will have to increase our strategies so that rainwater can be useful, instead of letting it flow back to the sea. Once we had the water stored in the catchment, people can use the water in a number of beneficial ways,” David said.
The DENR has been pushing for the establishment of smaller water impounding dams in upstream portions of the country to serve as an immediate solution to flood disasters, and to enable irrigation in downstream areas during the dry season.
To prevent further damage to the country’s water resources, the DENR is intensifying its massive reforestation program in watershed areas.
The agency is currently reviewing the policies in implementing the National Greening Program to encourage farmers into planting more trees to bolster water security in the country. By planting trees, farmers can install water impounding areas on their farmlands and replenish the aquifers.
