EDITORIAL - Water conservation

El Niño has emerged, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced in an advisory on June 8, with the effects of the weather phenomenon seen gradually intensifying later this year and in the first quarter of 2024.

Scientists have stressed that El Niño can intensify climatic conditions, whether wet or dry. Climate change, meanwhile, can either exacerbate or mitigate El Niño’s varying impacts around the globe. Occurring every two to seven years, El Niño is characterized by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean near the equator.

This makes the Philippines among the most affected by El Niño. While it is expected to enhance the monsoons and bring heavier than usual rainfall this wet season, El Niño is largely seen to bring drought in the country. This perception is evident in the reaction of President Marcos to the emergence of El Ninõ. Anticipating a prolonged dry spell, he ordered all government agencies to implement water conservation measures.

Beyond conservation, the President should consider having certain government offices take the lead in initiatives to recycle water. As booming populations and climate change deplete fresh water sources, gray water recycling is gaining popularity across the globe. This is the treatment of certain types of wastewater for re-use for non-potable purposes such as flushing toilets and cleaning outdoor grounds.

Only wastewater from plumbing systems or appliances such as washing machines and baths can be recycled. Kitchen wastewater, because of high grease content, as well as anything that comes in contact with feces or urine cannot be recycled.

Gray water recycling is used in countries such as Singapore, a city-state that does not have its own source of fresh water. Water recycling is also gaining popularity in designing new commercial and industrial buildings. Technology for gray water recycling at the household level is still in development, and the cost of installing what is currently available for household application can be prohibitive.

It is therefore up to governments to take the lead and set the example in showing the benefits of gray water recycling, and to provide incentives for industries to adopt a system that requires considerable investment. While gray water recycling tends to be energy-intensive, depending on the quality of the wastewater that is treated, certain industries that use water extensively, such as food and beverage as well as chemical can benefit from water recycling.

Alongside water recycling initiatives, the government must fast-track the development of new fresh water sources for Metro Manila, the country’s most densely populated region. With an ever-growing population and no commensurate expansion in fresh water sources, a water crisis is inevitable, regardless of whether El Niño or La Niña is affecting the country.