MMDA comes up with designs for rainwater catchment system in NCR

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) acting chairman Don Artes holds a picture of a rainwater catchment system which he said could aid local government units in Metro Manila cope with the effects of El Niño. (Photo from MMDA)

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has developed designs for a rainwater catchment system.

The blueprints will be distributed to local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila.

This initiative aims to help LGUs implement water-saving measures to mitigate the impact of the El Niño phenomenon.

El Niño is causing a decline in the water levels of major water sources in the National Capital Region, including the Angat Dam in Bulacan.

The rainwater catchment system is part of an approved resolution by the Metro Manila Council (MMC).

It outlines measures to ease the effects of the dry spell, including rainwater harvesting and the establishment of catchment sites.

“We will distribute these designs to the 17 Metro Manila LGUs, in support of the water mitigation measures that they will come up with in their respective cities and municipalities, depending on the needs in their areas,” MMDA acting chairman Don Artes was quoted as saying in a statement.

The MMDA reported that two catchment systems that used its designs were installed in a park in Tripa de Gallina in October of the previous year.

Tripa de Gallina is a tributary that runs from Pasay city to Makati city.

It is the longest creek in Metro Manila.

A rainwater harvesting tank was set up for flushing in a public toilet at the park.

Another tank was installed in a pocket garden or greenhouse where rainwater is used for watering plants.

In the same statement, San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora said his city government is set to conduct an inter-barangay water catchment system contest.

The event is meant to raise awareness and educate their citizens on how to reuse and recycle rainwater.

For her part, Malabon Mayor Jeannie Sandoval said Malabon LGU will craft an ordinance adapting the resolution.

They will also put up water catchment zones in their barangays (villages).

In addition to establishing rainwater harvesting systems, the MMC’s resolution aims to reduce water use in the maintenance of golf courses and car washing shops in the metro.

The resolution also includes ways to recycle wastewater (gray water) for watering plants and car washing, fix leaks in water pipes, and develop water filtration systems.

Enough water supply

Amid the continuous decline in water levels in dams across Luzon, Artes said he received word from the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) saying that Metro Manila will not experience water rationing or interruptions in March.

MWSS had told him that “sufficient water volume has been allotted to water concessionaires.”

Based on the update from Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) issued at 6 a.m., Angat Dam’s water level was at 204 meters.

This rate was below its normal water level of 212 meters.

Angat Dam supplies most of Metro Manila’s water.

All other dams in Luzon, except for Caliraya Dam, are also below their water levels.

The other dams do not have defined normal water level.

Pagasa’s latest El Niño advisory said the El Niño is expected to persist until May this year before transitioning into an El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)-neutral phase in June.

An ENSO-neutral phase refers to a climate that is neither El Niño nor La Niña.