WATER SOURCES IN BAGUIO DECLINING

February 21, 2021 JUST IN

Water sources in Baguio City is declining, prompting the National Water Resources Board’s (NWRB) promise to look into the proliferation of illegal deep wells, which was blamed as one of the causes of the woe.
“They promised to look into the matter of illegal deep wells and have them removed but no timeline was mentioned,” Baguio Water District General Manager Salvado Royeca though said.
Royeca along with Mayor Benjamin Magalong met with NWRB officials headed by Executive Director Dr. Sevillo David Jr. to take up propositions among which is the possibility of granting BWD regulatory power over the city’s water resources and private deep wells.
Royeca said all the recommendations were discussed and they are hopeful for positive feedback from the board.
The board’s concern was trained on the unpermitted deep wells which has been determined as one of the causes of the depletion of the recharge areas of the city’s underground water sources resulting to the decline in pumping water levels.
The same problem is being faced now as the city is poised to experience acute water shortage this summer due to the dwindling yield from underground sources and a shortfall in water harvesting target in some of the city’s facilities due to insufficient rainfall received.
Royeca said BWD adopted measures like tapping more sources and streamlining water supply schedule to ensure continuous supply until the rainy season.
However, the public is being urged to do its share by helping conserve water in their homes and offices.

“This water shortage is not just a possibility but is something inevitable and we all have to do something,” Mayor Benjamin Magalong said.
Amid the possibility of water shortage, the BWD issued water conservation tips to include: Taking bucket baths or short showers and using a bucket or dipper and discourage children from playing with water; turn off faucets when tooth brushing; using basins in doing laundry to avoid overflow of water; using washing machines with full loads only; recycling water by reusing laundry water for flushing toilets, cleaning bathroom or washing cars; practicing rainwater harvesting in homes homes with the use of ordinary asphalt drums and reporting or repairing leaks immediately.
Artemio A. Dumlao