A looming water crisis

Thanks to the lingering effects of La Niña, this summer may not be as scorching as in previous years. The occasional rains, however, won't be enough to ensure sufficient water supply. In many households, water is again coming in trickles. Not that potable water has ever been in abundant supply in this country. In Metro Manila, many areas get water only for a few hours every other day. The scarce supply means higher electricity bills for people who rely on their own pumps, hundreds of pesos in monthly water bills for those served by small-scale, community-based distributors, and additional household expenses for bottled water.

Outside Metro Manila, the problem is worse. As the nation observed this month the first World Water Day of the 21st century, millions of rural households still have no piped water. Outbreaks of water-borne diseases are still common, accounting for a significant percentage of infant mortality cases.

The problem is expected to get worse as the population booms and industrialization takes its toll on water resources. A report from the World Water Forum showed that in Southeast Asia alone, the population of 500 million is expected to grow by 50 percent by 2025. Watersheds are disappearing due to illegal logging and development. Natural water sources are increasingly becoming polluted. By the time every village in this country gets an artesian well, there might not be enough fresh water to go around.

This problem is not unique to the Philippines. In at least one country, the government is studying ways of limiting the use of bathtubs to conserve water. Toilets are being designed to reduce the amount of water used for flushing. There are no quick fixes here. Watersheds and natural water resources must be protected. Countryside development must be pushed to reduce urban migration. And no matter how expensive, the government and the private sector must start investing in pollution control devices as well as waste water treatment facilities for water recycling. Experts have warned that a global water crisis looms. The Philippines must act before this crisis explodes in our midst.