BAGUIO City Councilor Leandro Yangot Jr. filed a proposed legislative measure that would enable the residents of the city to have adequate water supply through the use of rainwater.
In the proposed ordinance Councilor Yangot explained that his proposal is being advanced in order to promote the proper harvesting, storage and utilization of rainwater as a viable alternative source of water supply primarily for non-potable use including the domestic usage for flushing of toilets, general cleaning, washing of clothes, urban agriculture, landscape irrigation, and supplemental water source for industrial, commercial and institutional and agricultural usage.
His proposal also aims to promote the proper harvesting, storage and utilization of rainwater to reduce the effects of storm water peak flow and surface run-off as well as siltation that will hopefully contribute in the reduction or mitigation of flooding and reduction of erosion in canals and deposit of silt loads on local roads and non-point source in urban areas.
The said proposed measure seeks to encourage and support the adoption and development of appropriate technology related to rainwater utilization by medium to large size commercial, institutional and industrial establishments, including medium to high end residential subdivisions, which are primarily consuming high volumes of freshwater.
Under the said proposed ordinance the rainwater harvesting system in the city will primarily utilize the so called rainwater catchment system (RCS) and will be appropriately classified based on the size and nature of catchment surface and based on whether the systems are urban or rural settings with the following: (a) small size RCS of individual residential and other types of buildings with a catchment surface equal to or less than fifty (50) square meters; (b) medium to large size RCS or residential buildings, including commercial, institutional, industrial and agricultural establishments with a catchment surface greater than fifty (50) square meters; (c) RCS for apartments, duplex or multi-level buildings in urbanized areas; and (d) RCS with pervious or impervious catchment surfaces.
The basic components of a RCS are a collection system (catchment surface), conveyance system (gutters/downspouts), storage system (storage tanks), treatment and disinfection system (leaf screen, first flush diverters, roof washers), and drainage/sewerage system (rainwater and storm water drains).
In the event of the approval of the said proposed ordinance, the RCS will become a mandatory requirement in the issuance of building permits for various establishments and facilities in the city of Baguio and the City Engineering Office shall be the primary agency that will implement the provisions of the said measure, while the City Planning Office shall provide the technical support for the undertaking.
Finally, in case of violations, the proposed ordinance also provides penalties like a fine of P500 imposed against the owner of an establishment which is residential in nature while a fine of P1,000 will be imposed for commercial or industrial establishments. In case of refusal to comply despite notice and initial fine, another fine of P5,000 shall be imposed and a fine of P1,000 for every month thereafter until compliance with the provisions of the measure is achieved.