ILOILO – This province may experience a dry spell from December this year until the first quarter of 2024, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), due to the El Niño phenomenon.
What should the Ilonggos do?
Practice rainwater harvesting and conserve water, advised the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO).
People should take advantage of the prevailing rainy season by collecting and storing rainwater, said Mitzi Peñaflorida, senior environmental management specialist of PGENRO.
But there is no need to buy new drums or containers; empty or recycled gallons would do as rainwater harvesting contraption, she stressed.
Collected rainwater may be used to clean the house or water the plants, said Peñaflorida, and there is another upside to this – a lower water bill.
“Through rainwater harvesting, maka-save gid kita water, especially subong amat amat or may time kon kaisa nga naga-stop na ang aton water source,” explained Peñaflorida.
The PGENRO’ has made it its goal to educate people on the importance of rainwater harvesting,
“Hopefully mapabugtaw naton ang aton mga pumoluyo nga mag-save sang tubig,” said Peñaflorida.
Other measures to save water, according to the PGENRO, are the following:
* adjusting the duration and volume of water used in the bath
* using glass instead of getting water directly from the tap when brushing teeth
* recycling laundry water for plants or cleaning of the house
“Mga simple things lang ina sia, but kon tanan kita naga-practice daku gid ang mabulig,” said Peñaflorida.
Recently, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Water Resources Management Office (DENR-WRMO) issued water conservation guidelines to be implemented in government offices in line with Memorandum Circular No. 22 issued by Malacañang.
Through a follow-up bulletin, the DENR-WRMO expanded the coverage of its water conservation directive to include provinces, instructing barangay officials and condominium and subdivision managers to advise residents to reduce water consumption.
For its part, the zero waste advocacy group EcoWaste Coalition released the following water conservation tips to prevent and reduce wastage of water, a precious resource:
* Have all leaky pipes, tanks and faucets repaired to avoid water loss.
* Collect rainwater; be sure to store it properly to keep dengue mosquitoes away.
* Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, washing your face or shaving.
* Take shorter showers and refrain from changing towels every day.
* Run a full load of laundry to cut on water, electricity and detergent use.
* Use grey water from bathing and washing to flush the toilet, clean the garage, and water the plants, and use a broomstick, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks.
* Put a brick or a bottle filled with pebbles or sand in the toilet tank to cut water used in every flush.
* Collect and use water dripping from air conditioners for washing mops and rugs, flushing the toilet or watering the plants.
* Do not let the faucet run while washing rice, fruits, and vegetables, and reuse the “dirty” water for watering the plants.
* Steam vegetables instead of boiling them to lessen use of water.
* Thaw frozen meat in the refrigerator overnight, not on running water.
* Select the proper size for pans and pots for cooking, and use fewer utensils and dishes to reduce water use.
* Do not let the water run when washing the dishes, fill one basin with wash water and the other with rinse water, and reuse the leftover water.
* Water the plants early in the morning or late in the evening to minimize water loss.
* Leave grass clippings on the lawn to keep the moisture, and spread a layer of mulch around plants and trees to retain water and lessen evaporation./PN
