Monday, September 03, 2007 Baguio@98: Conserving a 'rare commodity'
THREE times each week, Celeste, a resident of Camp 8, patiently waits for their ration of water. The stored water is enough to sustain their needs for three days up to one week, that is, if their next ration comes right on schedule.
The Kintanar household in San Carlos Heights, Irisan, sets aside P1,200 of their budget as payment for water delivery. For the past 10 years, they depended on private water deliveries to supply their water needs since the elevation of the area makes it impossible for the local water utility to deliver the family's needs.
At the apartment unit rented by Dyann Ramos and five others at Trancoville, water from their taps never runs out. But this steady supply of water does not mean they are supplied 24/7. Their landlord does the storing of water in tanks supplied also by the Baguio Water District (BWD) and which is directly connected with the apartment's faucet.
In all of these three households -- and elsewhere in Baguio -- water tanks, big gallons, extra large basins and drums have become a common sight.
As the law on supply and demand dictates, a growing population would likewise call for an increased demand for water.
What's in store?
As Baguio City celebrates its 98th birthday on Monday and as it approaches its centennial year, deficient water supply, aside from over population, squatting and pollution continue to be felt by residents and tourists alike, problems that admittedly, hound urban areas, including a medium-size city like Baguio.
And as Baguio ages, every resident might ask, what lies ahead? Will Baguio dries up or will it see much-needed improvement?
The answer would depend on the various factors and the different agencies of the government, including the community.
BWD's pipe-laying projects
With BWD's pipe-laying projects almost nearing completion, general manager Teresita de Guzman assured that in the years to come, the city would not dry up as feared.
In the next 10, 20 or even 30 years, there would still be sufficient water that would be supplied to households, she said. And with an improved distribution system, barangays that were not previously serviced by the BWD would finally be connected to the water utility's system in two year's time.
The BWD services 65 percent of the city population. The remaining 35 percent relies on private water deliveries, natural spring resources and other private water distribution utilities like the Camp John Hay Water System, which supplies water to Barangay Scout Barrio.
Compared to the present system of drawing out water from deepwells and then distributing it to service lines, de Guzman said that under a new distribution system, extracted water would first be channeled to BWD's reservoirs and conveyed by gravity before it is released to service lines, which connects to the different households.
"Water would be distributed through gravity. This way, there is equitable distribution that even those in elevated areas would have access," she said.
The BWD has eight reservoirs. Six would be added as sub-reservoirs.
A rehabilitated system also translates to less water loss brought about by pilferage, faulty water meters and leaking pipes. "More water would go directly to the end user," de Guzman said.
The BWD recently acquired a P798-million loan from the AusAid project, through the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), for the replacement of old pipes that were in place since the early 1940s. A partial re-piping was done in 1982.
But by this time, complete rehabilitation is needed, de Guzman said as she stressed that an increasing demand for water in the coming years has to be addressed this early.
But would the new system guarantee a round-the-clock water supply?
De Guzman said rationing would still be employed since pressure would be exerted on the pipes if water would be distributed through gravity. She explained that once households shut off their faucets after they have filled up their respective water storage containers, the pressure remains in the pipes and might cause these to burst, resulting in water loss.
Water usage is at its peak in the morning. Baguio City consumes about 55,000 cubic meters of water everyday.
For practical reasons, it is not realistic to supply water in every household and establishment for 24 hours because this does not promote water conservation, which is a key thrust of the water district in maximizing the use of what de Guzman described as a "rare commodity".
She said the water distribution system here should not even be compared to highly industrialized countries like the United States.
While it is true that there is a steady supply of flowing water in every faucet there, de Guzman said this service comes with a high price.
And to meet this demand, the prevailing price of water, which is pegged at P21 per cubic meter for residential and P40 for commercial would have to be increased at a price far higher than what is imposed today.
Update on the well drillings
From 2005 to date, 12 new wells have been drilled by the BWD, which meant that from a production capability of 35,000 cubic meters per day, this increased to a gross production yield of 55,000 cubic meters every day.
The new wells drilled are located in Amparo IV, which adds to the demand of those in the central business district; Easter II for Ferguson area; Teachers Camp for Paterno, South Drive, Country Club Village and Teachers Camp; and Athletic Well II for Kisad, Palma, Queen of Peace, Dominican and Asin Road consumers.
The Sofia de Veyra well would supply the whole of Barangay Quezon Hill; Dairy Farm well for Marcos Highway and Balacbac; Baguio General Hospital (BGH) well for the BGH compound; CICM I also for additional use of the CBD and barangays along its route via the Amparo sump tank; and CICM II for the additional supply of Bakakeng, SLU-SVP, Legarda, part of Marcos Highway and the Balsigan area.
The Irisan I deep well would supply the entire barangay, including San Carlos Heights and parts of Asin Road and Quezon Hill, while the Tacay-Pinsao well services Pinsao, Tacay, Tam-awan, Quezon Hill and Pinget.
By conservative estimate, de Guzman said Irisan, CICM, Tacay and Pinsao facilities benefit a maximum of 40,000 individuals.
Status of Baguio's sources of water
Baguio gets its supply of water from two sources: surface and those from aquifers.
During the wet season, rainwater is stored in rain basins and then distributed to different households.
During summer, water is drawn out from deep wells.
Baguio has eight existing forest and watershed reservations -- the largest being the Busol watershed.
With several watersheds, scarcity of water should not be a problem.
But records of the Forest Management Services of the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regional office revealed that all of Baguio's forest and watersheds have been intruded upon, some completely deforested.
A 1999 study by the DENR Forest Management Bureau, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Agriculture and the College of Forestry and Natural Resources of the University of the Philippines in Los Baños showed that deforestation, exploitation of vegetation for domestic use, inappropriate agriculture and forestry activities, poor water resource management and unregulated land conversion were among the reasons why forest and watersheds get denuded.
In Baguio City's case, DENR Regional Executive Director Samuel Peñafiel said overpopulation and the unregulated entry of squatters to our watersheds are the culprits.
Large portions of Lucnab, Busol, Sto. Tomas, Buyog, Camp 8 and Pucsusan forest and watershed reserves are now occupied and denuded while the Crystal Cave forest reserve, covering four hectares, has been totally deforested.
The Lucnab reserve supplies the water needs of Barangay Lucnab; Busol for Barangays Aurora Hill, Pacdal and Navy Base; and Sto. Tomas for Barangays Dominican Hill, Marcos Highway, Bakakeng, Naguilian Road, Quirino-Magsaysay, Rock Quarry and City Camp.
Buyog watershed supplies the Buyog area, including Camdas, Dizon, Pinget and Quirino Hill; the Camp 8 reserve for Camp 8, Hillside, Military Cut Off, Loakan and PNR; the CJH reserve for Camp 7, Scout Barrio, Dagsian and Greenwater Village and the Pucsusan watershed for Barangays Pucsusan, Mines View and Gibraltar.
The Camp John Hay forest reserve, under the management and protection of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, has since been fenced. Forest rangers were also hired to guard the protected area.
Preservation efforts
To avert further degradation of watersheds, fencing and guarding is now in place. Cases for eviction have also been filed by the BWD through the DENR. Some non-government organizations also adopted portions of watersheds for continuous reforestation.
Peñafiel warned that if nothing is done to protect the city's remaining watersheds, it is highly possible that Baguio would dry up.
Although aquifers still have abundant supply of water, Peñafiel said no one could tell how long an aquifer could produce water.
"Obviously, there is a problem," Peñafiel said as he pointed out that the scarcity of water during summer is an indication that aquifers could not recharge just as fast.
He said the recent dry spell would also affect the production of water via aquifers.
As such, Peñafiel stressed regulation of development, reforestation, and conservation are key to ensuring that even after this generation, water needs would still be met.
Local government participation
The preservation of watersheds is lodged solely on the DENR. But with the enactment of the Local Government Code, protection of smaller watersheds had been devolved to the local government.
Thus in September 2004, several Baguio City Hall offices underwent a partial reorganization. The former City Architects and Parks Superintendent Office was upgraded to the City Environment and Parks Management Office (Cepmo).
Peñafiel said management of the city's largest watershed -- Busol -- and other watersheds should have long been with the city but up to now, there's no communication regarding the relinquishing of the management of the watershed to the City Government.
Although Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr., in a press statement, said the City Government is ready to take over, Peñafiel said everything has been lip service.
Councilor Erdolfo Balajadia, chairperson of the City Council committee on environment, himself admitted that Cepmo is not doing enough in protecting even just Busol.
"We have problems with some departments of the City Government. Zoning is hardly enforced when there are enough laws and ordinances to prevent intrusion in watersheds," said Balajadia, who also chairs the Baguio Regreening Movement.
He, however, does not favor that forest and watersheds management should be passed on to Cepmo.
Balajadia said the Cepmo is already hard up in maintaining the city's parks, what more with protecting the watersheds.
Instead of devolution, Balajadia said co-management is a better option. He said the DENR has the technical experts as well as the financial capacity to manage Busol. "The Cepmo will just assist," he said.
But co-management has never been realized. Peñafiel said this has been a proposal six years earlier but even a subsidy for managing Busol was not given allocation by the City Government.
"They talk loudly about it but in actuality, we need to see more," Peñafiel said.
At the City Council, several resolutions and ordinances have been passed, which dwell largely on preservation of watersheds -- the most recent include the Tree Planting Ordinance and the City Water Code, which was passed last February.
Incorporated in the Water Code is the inventory of water resources, management of wastewater, regulation of drilling, accreditation of private water delivery groups, regulation of infrastructure development in areas proximate to watersheds and water conservation, among others. The code also creates a Local Water Board and Water Governance Council.
Bulk water supply
With BWD's pronouncement that there is enough water that could even last for another decade, is extraction of water outside of Baguio still necessary?
De Guzman said yes, extraction of bulk water is still needed. "The bulk water supply project (BWSP) is a long-term approach in the event reforestation efforts here fail," she said.
Because the BWD largely depends on what nature gives, de Guzman said the BWSP is a pro-active move in addressing problems resulting from a more bigger problem, which is urbanization.
In 2004, the Benguet Corporation was declared the winning bidder in supplying bulk water to Baguio.
A contract however was not signed because of opposition from various sectors, particularly on the quality of water, which would be brought here.
Peñafiel and Balajadia likewise favor extraction of water outside Baguio, also due to the growing population. Both said this has to be addressed now.
The role of the community
In trying to address the water crisis, all three sources agreed that community participation is vital.
De Guzman, Peñafiel and Balajadia lamented the public has remained passive and relies wholly on what government agencies could do.
"Only a small percentage of the population participates in reforestation activities," Peñafiel said.
The public's lack of patience also contributes to the problem, Balajadia said.
They stressed every citizen should do his or her share in helping conserve what remains of Baguio. "It took years for the environment to be damaged, it would also take years before it is fully rehabilitated. Do not expect an overnight solution and never give up," they said.
