QC to adopt water-saving measures to avoid service interruptions
The Quezon City Hall (FILE PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City plans to implement water-saving initiatives to combat water service interruptions.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte instructed City Engineer Dale Perral to set up and manage rain harvesting systems in city-owned buildings that “can store up to 6,000 liters of rainwater.”
Additionally, the city has ongoing and upcoming retention basin projects that may serve as a source of stored rainwater of up to 200,000 gallons.
“This will greatly help alleviate the impact of the water interruption in our city, especially in the communities that will be affected by the water interruption,” Belmonte said in Filipino.
The city is also exploring the use of drip irrigation technology to optimize the available water supply for its urban farms and is coordinating with water companies to enforce pipe laying and leak repairs.
“In the same manner, we are encouraging them to install water meters right beside government and school buildings and not too far from their compounds to immediately address possible water loss from leaks,” Perral said.
Several barangays in the city were supposed to be affected by scheduled water interruptions from Maynilad Water Services Inc. due to the low water level of Angat Dam.
However, Maynilad said on Sunday that it would be suspending its daily water interruptions indefinitely due to the increased water level of Ipo Dam because of rains brought by Tropical Storm Dodong.
Nonetheless, the city has greenlit projects for water retention in response to future interruptions.
The city’s initiatives are being aligned with their Task Force El Niño, which will be institutionalized through an executive order issued by Belmonte, in response to the looming water scarcity brought by the onset of El Niño.
