BAGUIO CITY – The Baguio Water District (BWD) said its El Niño mitigation measures are part of its long-term water security plan, which aims to address rising demand and dwindling water resources.
“Tuloy-tuloy ang programa natin, hindi lang ngayon na may ine-expect tayo na El Niño, but because kailangan natin gawin dahil dumadami ang demand at lumiliit din ang resources natin (Our programs are continuing, not just because we are expecting El Niño, but because we need to respond to increasing demand and dwindling resources),” BWD General Manager Salvador Royeca said in an interview Monday.
Royeca said the utility has been expanding water production, improving its distribution system, developing rainwater harvesting facilities, monitoring sources, detecting and repairing leaks, protecting watersheds and promoting water conservation.
He said the district’s long-term water security plan focuses on five pillars — source augmentation, water storage, system efficiency, source protection and demand management.
Since 2024, the BWD has been drilling two deep wells annually to augment supply as demand increases, according to Royeca.
The district currently produces 56,000 cubic meters of water daily against an average demand of 60,000 cubic meters, serving about 51,000 connections. Once commissioned, 10 deep wells are expected to contribute an additional 5,000 to 10,000 cubic meters daily.
The BWD has replaced old distribution pipelines with corrosion-resistant materials to reduce leaks and system losses.
“We are also trying to collect runoff rainwater in our watersheds to make use of it and prevent it from simply flowing away,” Royeca said.
The rainwater harvesting facility on Mount Santo Tomas was filled by monsoon rains in August and September, while the facility at Busol Watershed was commissioned this year and filled to augment supply during the summer season.
Similar facilities are being built at Buyog and Camp 8 watersheds.
The Mount Santo Tomas facility can supply at least 12 percent of the city’s water demand for up to six months.
Baguio currently relies on 78 deep wells, 90 pumping stations and four spring sources to supply consumers.
The district also continues to plant trees in watersheds and has called on organizations, groups and offices to adopt forest parks to encourage public participation in watershed conservation.
Royeca said underground and spring sources have recovered following continuous rainfall in August and September. However, the district is conserving these resources amid forecasts of prolonged El Niño conditions that could further deplete water sources.
Among its short-term measures, the BWD is regulating groundwater discharge to prevent sudden drops in water levels and maximizing spring sources to preserve underground reserves.
It is also implementing water balancing in service zones, monitoring pressure and reservoir levels for real-time adjustments, and providing water during scheduled supply windows in critical areas.
The district has intensified leak detection and pipeline inspections, along with the immediate repair of leaks, pipe bursts and defective fittings. It has also stepped up efforts to detect and prevent illegal water connections and urged residents to report leaks. (PNA)
WATER CONSERVATION CRUCIAL. The Baguio Water District says the city is preparing for the prolonged effects of El Niño, with rainwater harvesting facilities filled and underground sources replenished by heavy rains in August and September. The utility is urging residents to conserve water to prevent the depletion of supplies during the expected five to six months of limited rainfall.
