Proposed Law on Proper Storage, Utilization of Rainwater Mulled

Cagayan De Oro City — The proposed ordinance for the proper harvesting, storage and utilization for rain water in Cagayan de Oro was discussed by the City Council committee on public works and engineering.

The proposed ordinance provides that the city shall promote the proper harvesting, storage and utilization as a viable alternative source of water supply primarily for non-potable use including domestic usage for flushing toilets, general cleaning, and washing of clothes, urban agriculture, landscape irrigation and supplement water source for industrial, commercial, institutional, agricultural usage, among others.

It also provides that the city shall encourage and support the adaptation and development of appropriate technology related to rainwater utilization by medium to large size commercial, institutional and industrial establishments including medium to high-end residential subdivisions which are primarily consuming high volume of freshwater.

Rainwater Catchment System (RCS) comprise the structure and the process of maintaining the system and classified based on the size and nature of catchment surface and based on the whether the systems are of urban or rural settings, based on the proposed ordinance.

During the meeting of the committee, chaired by Councilor Alden Bacal, Councilor Ramon Tabor, author of the ordinance, said this measure was already enacted in Davao City and he intends it to be enacted and implemented in Cagayan de Oro City.

Tabor said the purpose of the ordinance is to minimize the flooding in the city and to conserve water as well as energy.

“Why don’t we save the rainwater for very obvious purposes, sa paglimpyo, pagbunyag sa tanom, and more importantly mapugngan ang baha (Why don’t we save the rainwater for very obvious purposes, in cleaning, watering the plants, and more importantly prevent flooding,” he said.

Tabor said the ordinance will require subdivision developers to provide rainwater catchment system to be used by the homeowners to save the rainwater.

Councilor Bacal assured that a copy of the proposed ordinance will be disseminated to different agencies.

He calls on the contractors, subdivision developers and other concerned agencies to submit their respective comments and suggestions on the proposed ordinance. (JBD/CdeOSP)