MMDA tells Metro LGUs: Save water

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THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority yesterday urged the 17 local government units in the National Capital Region to adopt water mitigation measures for El Nino, which the weather bureau previously said would likely persist until May this year.

MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes made the call as the Metro Manila Council approved a resolution laying down several measures meant to lessen the effects of El Nino, including but not limited to rainwater harvesting through the establishment of catchment areas, reduction in the use of water in the maintenance of golf courses and in car washing, recycling of wastewater or gray water for watering plants and car washing, fixing leaks in water pipes, and development of water filtration systems.

The MMC, whose members are the 17 Metro mayors, is the policy-making body of the MMDA.

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Artes said the agency has developed basic designs for a rainwater catchment system that will be distributed to the Metro LGUs.

The rain catchment device can hold up to 10,000 liters of rainwater.

“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 municipality, depending on the needs in their areas,” he said, adding two of the MMDA-designed catchment systems have been installed in a pocket park in Tripa de Gallina in Pasay City last October.

One of the rainwater harvesting tanks was set up near a public toilet so the water could be reused to flush the toilet.

The other tank, according to Artes, was installed in a pocket garden or greenhouse where the rainwater is used to water plants.

In San Juan, Mayor Francis Zamora said the city government is set to conduct an inter-barangay water catchment system contest to raise awareness and educate their citizens on how to reuse and recycle rainwater.

Malabon Mayor Jeannie Sandoval said they will craft an ordinance adopting the resolution and will put up water catchment areas in their barangays.

Despite his call, Artes allayed fears of water shortage and said the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System have assured there will be no water rationing and water interruptions for this month as sufficient water volume has been allotted to water concessionaires.

But the MMDA chief said the assurance of enough water supply doesn’t mean wasting water resources.

“We need to continuously and consistently save water so that in the coming months, during summer, we will still have a steady supply of it,” he said.

Artes also said the Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, responsible for carrying out the implementation of actions and measures about all aspects of disaster risk reduction and management in the NCR, is set to meet with City Disaster Risk Reduction Management officers in Metro Manila to further discuss El Niño mitigation measures for each city.

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