The common drivers for action identified within the utility were declining water quality which often leads to a loss of public confidence and trust in the water supplied to the customers. This challenge usually results in high operating or treatment costs as the utility must invests in advanced water treatment equipment such as microfiltration and ultraviolet treatment to guarantee safe and potable from the source or catchment up to the household taps.

The dry season, on the other hand, usually results in a decrease in the water yield of deep well sources, prompting BWD to shut off these sources.

Another key driver for action is water availability. If water resources are inadequate, it could lead to supply disruptions, failure to meet water demand, and reduced customer satisfaction. Therefore, securing the city’s water resources—both groundwater and surface water—is imperative. To address this, several augmentation and water supply development projects must be implemented to meet the growing demand driven by an influx of tourists, population migration, and industrialisation.

Lastly, the extreme weather patterns aside from being a health hazard also cause damage to the utility’s pumping facilities and other infrastructures, as well. This event may also impact economic activities and trigger a supply chain reaction, as it could disrupt transportation due to significant flooding, road blockades caused by erosion, and power outages resulting from downed electric posts and damaged transformers. The Philippines is visited by an average of twenty-two (22) typhoons per year but Baguio City experiences only an average of three (3) to four (4) strong typhoons with 160 to 200kph wind strength, in contrast to previous years when typhoons in the city used to be very frequent. The stronger typhoons often wreak havoc on the utility’s facilities and significantly affect the quality of water from the open sources. Strong typhoon often causes power outages resulting to non-operation of pumping facilities. These factors often lead to declined or poor water quality due to the exposure of the open sources to elements in the environment.

Adapting to climate change

To address the challenges ahead, Baguio Water District has implemented several water supply augmentation programmes to adapt to the changing climate. One such programme is the extension of distribution lines and reactivating old deep well sources. To further meet forecasted water demand, the utility has invested in programmes to explore and drill additional deep well sources.

In Baguio’s Water’s attempt to ensure continuous water distribution services, the district has also undertaken vulnerability assessment of its facilities by identifying pumping stations and other facilities that are prone to flooding and erosion. The results of these assessments have led to the building of ripraps or retaining walls, construction of well aprons in deep wells, and diversion canals for springs/open sources.

Busol Rainwater Harvesting Facility

Santo Tomas Rain Basin Harvesting Facility

For sustainable adaptation to climate change, the district has invested in additional rainwater harvesting facilities thereby augmenting the water supply in the northeastern part of the city with an additional 46,000 cubic metres of water. Another rainwater harvesting facility is currently being evaluated as part of the district’s water security and climate change adaptation programme.

Watershed management programmes have also been implemented to combat the effects of climate change as well as reduce carbon footprint in the environment. Some of these programmes include: (1) adopt-a-watershed programme where stakeholders were invited to adopt a planting site within the watershed which they will nurture, de-weed, replant, and maintain; (2) construction of recharge ditches in the different watersheds. These programmes will hasten the recharge rate of the aquifers especially considering BWD’s main water sources are groundwater or deep wells. A total of one hundred sixty-one (161) recharge ditches are being maintained by the watershed management section of the utility; (3) membership in watershed management councils to ensure that problems affecting the watersheds are identified and subsequently corrected for instance issues with encroachment of informal settlers.
A tree inventory programme is another intervention being conducted by the water utility as this will guide in the number of trees yet to be planted in the future.

Tree Planting activity (left photo) and construction of recharge ditches (right)

Geotagging of trees as part of the Tree Inventory Programme

Mitigation actions

To mitigate the impacts of climate change, BWD has also put in place several programmes and projects to response to extreme weather patterns affecting the country, and even the world. These actions are aimed to prevent water supply disruptions, ensure water availability, improve water quality, and improve the quality of life. Some of these mitigation actions includes non-revenue water reduction programmes like standardisation and rectification of standpipes / meter boxes, pressure management, replacement of old and deteriorated pipes, and saturation/detection and repair of leaks, to name some. By continuously implementing these programmes, water availability is ensured.

The construction of a green building is another approach the utility has used to reduce energy, waste and carbon footprints arising from high power consumption. Through this, natural lighting and ventilation are employed to improve energy efficiency, avoiding air conditioning systems causing the release of carbon dioxide into the air or the environment.

Installation of microfiltration tanks as part of the multi-barrier water treatment system for open/spring sources

Regular pruning of tree branches (left) and implementation of soil erosion control projects

Communication with citizens

Good governance and efficient leadership are important to ensure the adoption and implementation of all programmes by all stakeholders. The development and implementation of the Water Safety Plan (WSP) has enhanced the monitoring and management of water quality within the utility. Currently, the utility’s filtration tanks produce biodegradable and recyclable waste products, (sludge) which may be returned to the environment without harm.

The Water Safety Plan programmes are communicated to all employees for their information and guidance. Press conferences and radio/TV guesting allow open communication with the public which includes topics or reminders on Water Conservation tips, Water Quality Monitoring and updates on water supply. These press releases are regularly published on the social media account of the water utility, so that citizens are updated on the district’s programmes and reminded of their responsibilities, as customers.

INFORMATION AND EDUCATION CAMPAIGN ON THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE TO BWD WATER SOURCES
**this photo was taken from the Climate Change Summit held on February 9, 2023 at the Baguio Convention Centre where the General Manager, Engr. Salvador M. Royeca was invited to deliver a talk on the Climate Change Impact on Water Resources. This was attended by various stakeholders, youth, and local officials.

AWARDING CEREMONY OF THE “HUWARANG-LINGKOD TUBIG” AWARD FOR LUZON on March 22, 2023 during the World Water Day. At the center is the General Manager of the Baguio Water District, Engr. Salvador M. Royeca. The “Huwarang-Lingkod Tubig” Award is conferred to a water district for its best Corporate Social Responsibility Program for its efforts in extending various forms of assistance to smaller water districts in the region and played a crucial role during relief operations in the aftermath of typhoon Ompong. The BWD is a two-time Huwarang Lingkod Tubig Awardee – 2019 and 2023

Lessons learned

Proactive approach and forecasting are still the best approaches to anticipate possible risks and hazards that may arise from environmental effects due to climate change and global warming. As the effects and damages are often irreversible, programmes that must be implemented are sustainable and resilient and attack directly the root cause of the problem. Through early identification of the potential risks, the severity of the damage, if any, is minimised if not eliminated. It is also important to involve the people and the stakeholders in any adaptation and mitigation programmes as they play pivotal roles in the implementation. Engaging the stakeholders and the public is another lesson learned from this problem. By making them aware of the ill effects of the changing weather patterns resulting in declining water sources and possible water scarcity as well as building additional facilities to mitigate the deficit in supply, programmes are better implemented and supported.

The Baguio Water District is a government-owned and controlled organization (GOCC) created on 01 July 1975 by virtue of City Council Resolution No. 37-75.  It supplies a highly urbanized city, north of Manila in the Philippines, with active connections of around 49,000. Majority of the water supply is sourced from groundwaters.

For more information, visit https://baguiowaterdistrict.gov.ph/