- Brian Oram

TOO LITTLE (El Nino)

TOO MUCH (Sendong)

Brief Review on Water Dynamics

FRESH WATER 2.5% (35.2 million km3)*

SURFACE WATER = 137,280 cu. km UNFROZEN

POLAR CAPS & GLACIERS SEAS & OCEANS 97.5% (1.4 billion km3)* GROUND WATER = 9,014,720 cu. km. Source: WWDR, 2006

Remember: there is more water under ground than above it.

1.0%

Biosphere (1,372 cu. km.)

9.0% 25.0%

Atmosphere (12,355 cu. km.) Soil Moisture (34,320 cu. km.)

100% SURFACE WATER (137,280 cu. km.)

65.0% Rivers & Lakes (89,232 cu. km.)

ARTIFICIAL EXTRACTION Immediate effect

NATURAL PERCOLATION 1 meter per year (approx.)

Trees

Crops

1. Rainwater is conveyed to the aquifers by the roots of large trees 2. Roots of plants and shrubs direct rainwater to the sponge area 3. Minimal soil erosion 4. Minimal run-off

1. Aggravated run-off 2. Aggravated soil erosion 3. Dead root systems

4. Dried up aquifers

10

11

Recharge area

Potentiometric surface

Flowing artesian well

Infiltration

Water table well

Artesian well

Unconfined aquifer Confining layer Confined aquifer

Confining layer

12

Social Dimension of the Fresh Water Problem

13

Diminishing volume Pollution & contamination Unabated population growth Conflict & competition in the usage Environmental degradation Geological aberrations
14

Causes 1/3 of the worlds human diseases, Stalls economic development,

Wreaks havoc on the environment, and

Causes local and regional conflicts.
- Philippine Star, AFP, 23 June 2006

15

16

16

17

Metro Manila Angeles City Baguio City Cebu City Iloilo City Bacolod Davao City Cagayan de Oro

Norte Nueva Vizcaya Ilocos Norte Apayao Benguet Kalinga ARMM Capiz Quezon Bukidnon Leyte Agusan del Sur Bohol North Cotabato Masbate Zamboanga DN Guimaras Misamis Oriental Negros Oriental Misamis Occidental Negros Occidental
18

Camarines

Source: UNs Philippine Human Development Report 2005, WB, JICA

Over Extraction, Pollution and Contamination

19

1st water table

1st tube 2nd tube 3rd tube

2nd water table

3rd water table

20

1925

1955

The irreversible loss of surface elevation due to removal of subsurface support including excessive withdrawal of ground water and petroleum.

1977
- Mitigating Losses from Land Subsidence in the US (1991) Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems (CETS)

21

Excessive pumping of fresh water Salt-contaminated extraction well Original water table Lowered water table

Original salt water interface

Salt water intrusion 22

23

24

25

to resort to the time-tested ancient wisdom, to avert the water crisis we are faced with, to conserve the countrys groundwater resources, and to meet our water needs.

- Dr. Jessica Calfoforo Salas, Ph.D., President, International Rainwater Catchment Systems Assn.

26

27

29

30

31

Average annual rainfall (1,200 mm.) Roof surface area Volume of harvested water (70% of annual rainfall) Domestic application

Individual Houses 100 sq. m. 84 cu. m. 150 days

Multi-level Building 500 sq. m. 420 cu. m. 750 days

Estimated annual savings

P1,100

P5,500

32

Average annual rainfall (1,200 mm.) Total annual rainfall 60% allowance for losses
(seepage, evaporation, transpiration)

1 hectare (10,000 sq. m.) ??? m3 ??? m3 ??? m3

40% rainwater harvested Rice produced from rain saved

(4m3 water/kilo palay)

???? kilos
??? days

Food for family of 5

- Adopted from data published by FAO

33

Where to construct recharge wells

34

Mesh

Baffles

Injection well

Debris

Lahar stones

Lahar pebbles

Zeolite grit 35 35

Roadside bore hole with filtration system

36

Bore hole with extraction pump

37

Lakebed borehole and recharge well

38

Permeable concrete pavement

Gravel surface Percolation bed

Building percolation beds

39

Saves free run-off water to meet demand shortages, Reduces consumers utility bills,

Recharges aquifers and groundwater resources,

Reduces soil erosion and downstream flooding, Rainwater is clean: zero-hardness, sodium-free, pH balanced, Minimize s damage of weather extremes (El Nio/La Nia), Mitigates salt-water intrusion and chemical leaching, and Rainwater is superior for landscape irrigation.
40

Absence financial incentives, laws and other regulations, Potential contamination of groundwater, May not be economically feasible, Lack of hydrological data, and Construction period of recharge wells may disrupt the ecology. In addition, slow assimilation and lack of appreciation of the technology by the government.

41

Policy Recommendations

42

Adopt a national strategy on rainwater harvesting,

Integrate RWH in public works projects, Require new buildings and existing ones, fitted with rainwater collection systems, Amend the mandate of the NWRB, the Building Code and the Water Code, Require deep-well owners to install artificial recharge systems, and
Provide tax and other incentives to R&D and commercial ventures on RWH.
43

44

Jessica Calfoforo-Salas, Ph.D Matias Flores, ACES Drilling Carlos Perez, Watcon Robert Guevarra, Earthday Jed Las Marias, GTZ

45