Water Efficiency

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

A study funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has found that every single major city in the Philippines is expected to face some form of water shortage by 2025. At the same time, the members of the USAID's “Be Secure” project pointed out that changing weather patterns would increasingly make rainfall overly abundant in the northern part of the country, while becoming increasingly scarce in the southern regions in the coming years.

Elisea Gozun, the group's Climate Resiliency Team Leader who served as environment and natural resources chief under the Arroyo administration, pointed out that these increasing extremes in rainfall patterns and water supply distortions were being driven by scientific projections of an increase in global temperatures by between 0.9 to 1.1 degrees Celsius by 2020 and by 1.8 to 2.2 degrees Celsius by 2050.

It was also pointed out that the current El Niño phenomenon, believed to be the most severe incidence since the late 1990s, has also been demonstrated historically to have a severe impact on the food supply. A 1 degree Celsius increase in temperature was found to have result in a 15 percent reduction in rice production.

The USAID project brought several international experts to the Philippines to advice the government, the academe, and the business community on the need for an aggressive water demand management program to help mitigate the effects of the expected decline in water supply in the coming years. The experts pushed for a multisectoral approach to the issue of declining water supply in the Philippines, starting with a massive information campaign to make all sectors of society aware of the looming problem.

It would be wise for our leaders and influence makers in the concerned sectors to take heed of the “Be Secured” project's “National Water Strategy” that advocates for increased efficiency in water supply, industrial water use and irrigated agriculture as well as the setting of appropriate water tariffs and incentives.

It also recommends the use of alternative water resources where possible, including rainwater harvesting, “greywater” use for household cleaning and irrigation, the use of treated wastewater for agriculture and setting up desalination facilities for the treatment of sea and brackish water.

The earlier we start at being more conscious and efficient of the way we use our water, the better our chances of ensuring that the next generation won't have to suffer when it comes to water.*