DENR-7 Appeals to Public to Conserve Water at Household Level

(PIA) — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) in Central Visayas recently appealed to the public to conserve water at the household level as the country observes world water day (WWD) on March 22.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) announced that the country is now experiencing an El Niño phenomenon, an abnormal weather pattern caused by the warming of the Pacific Ocean affecting global climate and causing unusual droughts and floods.

“We should take water conservation measures very seriously make sure that we have enough water supply for domestic use, agriculture, aquaculture and energy,” said DENR7 regional director Dr. Isabelo Montejo.

In a drought or dry spell outlook at the end of March 2016 released by PAGASA, at least 68 provinces or 85 percent of the country’s 81 provinces will likely to experience moderate to severe drought.

In the Visayasarea, it listed Cebu and some 14 provinces to include Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Bohol, Siquijor, Biliran, Leyte, Northern Samar, Western Samar, and Southern Leyte.

Montejo said we should be more concern on our water consumption in bathing, tooth brushing and hand washing adding recycled laundry water could be used for gardening, flushing the toilet and washing a car and a floor.

These water conservation measures include checking for plumbing leaks and reporting pipe leaks to the water concessionaires; using water sparingly such as when brushing teeth, washing hands, laundry and cleaning dishes.

Using a pail and dipper instead of the shower when bathing or the hose when washing vehicles and gardening during cooler times of the day; reducing the frequency of doing the laundry, as well as hanging clothes to dry instead of prolonging the washing machine’s spin cycle; and utilizing used water for other purposes such as dousing garden plants with water used in food preparation, and using soapy laundry water for vehicles.

“We can use always a glass to brush our teeth or not allowing water to flow freely in the faucet while brushing, and avoid watering the plants during high noon as water easily evaporates,” the environment and natural resources official added.

El Niño occurs every two to seven years, with the Philippines experiencing it last between mid-2009 and mid-2010.

Also, the Philippines will celebrate this year’s World Water Day with a focus on the vital role of water in achieving sustainable development on March 22.

“Water and Jobs,” is this year’s theme and it seeks to focus on how enough quantity and quality of water can change worker’s lives and livelihood and even transform societies and economies.

The international observance of WWD is an initiative that grew of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro. The United General Assembly designated 22 March of each year as the World Day for water by adopting a resolution.

This world day for water was to be observed staring in 1993, in conformity with the recommendations of United Nations Conference on Environment and Development contained in chapter 18 (Freshwater resources) of Agenda 21. (mbcn/jsme/PIA7-Cebu/ with DENR7 report)