MANILA, Philippines—Officials of the National Water Resources Board have met with administrators of golf courses from major cities in the country to address dwindling water supply aggravated by the great demand of the courses.

NWRB head Ramon Alikpala said water stress was being experienced in nine cities in the country, including Metro Manila, and this meant the nine would soon be or have been getting water from other places not within their own environments.

“Most of these golf courses tap water from aquifers, further depleting the groundwater supply in the metropolis,” he said.

Alikpala said they talked to the golf course administrators last week about considering the use of wastewater for watering the grass to protect Metro Manila’s groundwater supply.

Alikpala revealed last week that the high level of urbanization in Metro Manila and the cities of Baguio, Angeles, Iloilo, Davao, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga and Metro Cebu had a negative impact on their water supply.

While assuring the public that the country’s water supply remained relatively abundant, Alikpala warned that the mismanagement of water resources could eventually lead to a crisis.

Studies revealed that the groundwater supply in Metro Manila has been at a critical level, he added.

Alikpala said the University of the Philippines identified the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela as among the specific areas “where groundwater has been reduced to below the sea level.”

Other problems in Metro Manila are saltwater intrusion and contamination of groundwater from septic tanks.