AFTER a year of testing, SM Baguio launched on July 4 the first rainwater filtration facility in a mall setting to process rain into potable water for the 290 long-term and 313 short-term mall tenants.
Currently, the facility produces around 175 cubic meters of drinking water daily.
PureO3 General Manager Merlin Te, the company commissioned to build the system, said it can still increase to 300 cubic meters, enough for his estimate of SM’s daily water consumption of 300-400 cubic meters.
SM Baguio’s rainwater catchment system can store 51 million liters annually, based on PAG-ASA’s 2022 Baguio rainfall volume, the equivalent of 20 Olympic-size swimming pools.
Aside from recycled rainwater, the mall also sources its water supply from BWD and delivery services.
“The mall’s rainwater filtration facility will supply the mall with enough potable water to help reduce sourcing from the communities’ water table, leaving more water supply for the Baguio community,” said SM Supermalls Senior Vice President Bien Mateo during the launch.
Engineer Jean Borromeo, Environmental Management Bureau Cordillera officer-in-charge, acknowledged the facility’s significance.
She pointed out that Baguio receives approximately 900 to 4,000 milliliters of rain annually, one of the highest in the country, yet it continues to experience water shortage.
“This will greatly help reduce sourcing from the city’s water table and more water supply for the community to use,” the EMB regional chief said.
Great timing
The timing of the launch could not have been better.On the same day, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) announced the start of El Niño, a natural climate pattern characterized by ocean surface warming in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. The event appears approximately every two to seven years, lasting nine to 12 months. Its impacts vary across the globe, from increased rainfall to severe droughts.
Just over a week ago, the Baguio Water District (BWD) also recommended collecting fees from tourists to finance the construction of more water harvesting facilities.
During the June 26 city council session, BWD General Manager Engr. Salvador Royeca said a considerable gap exists between the city’s demand and available water supply. He disclosed that water demand increases by more than 20% during the tourist peak season.
Stressed water supply
According to PAG-ASA, the Philippines’ weather agency, El Niño typically comes with decreased rainfall, causing dry spells and drought in some parts of the country. A recent forecast from the office warns of 36 provinces experiencing a dry spell by the end of 2023.For Baguio, El Nino usually means lower rainfall and more stress on the city’s scarce water resources.
Last May, Baguio’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council directed barangays to institute measures to mitigate the impact of El Nino.
Royeca, in his report, said that the reservoir along Km 8 has dried up because of El Nino. This has affected the water supply of at least 18 western barangays.
Meanwhile, several barangays in the northern part of the city are also facing water shortages from decreasing sources caused by insufficient rain to replenish the aquifers.
The impending water problem has also prompted the city to crack down on informal settlers in watersheds, illegal deep wells, and overextraction in private pumping systems. City officials have also appealed to residents to conserve and recycle water. At the same time, BWD has implemented contingency plans, especially for problematic barangays. By Sherwin De Vera