People’s activities threaten water safety
During the water forum in May 2008 at the Baguio City Multi-Purpose Hall, Vice-Mayor Daniel Fariñas said that the city has excessive people causing excessive waste materials, pollution and other problems and that water is a problem though it is not excessive.
This claim was proven right by the city government and the Baguio Water district when asked about the state of the water in the city. The people, though they may not be aware, threaten the safety of water sources in the city through their activities.
Poisoning ofSagudin-Balili River
Although the city government, BWD and various environmental organizations in the city continue their efforts in bringing back the Sagudin-Balili River in its original form, activities of the people in the city continue to pollute the river.
During the water forum, it has been found out that most of the creeks and other tributaries of the river have become garbage disposal for residents ofBaguio Sagudin-Balili River
BWD Watershed/Right of Way Supervisor Joel Wadwadan said that while the Sagudin-Balili River is being polluted, the river becomes toxic thus threatening the underground sources of water located near the tributaries of the river. “It’s at risk pag talagang pinabayaang ma-poison ang river. May chance na mag-infiltrate sa ground [ang toxins] at ma-reach yung aquifer. Madadale ‘yung tubig natin,” Wadwadan explained.
The water district has two sources of water: through watersheds (Busol, Buyog, Camp 8 and Sto. Tomas) and through underground sources or deep wells which are the main source of water in the city. Wadwadan said that there are 64 deep wells along the city which are located near the tributaries of river so it is important to maintain cleanliness in the river.
Wadwadan added that after the rain, wastes in the river and in its tributaries are being washed out so people must take advantage of this to maintain the cleanliness of the river. “Maganda nga sana na pagkatapos ng ulan, malinis ang Balili River, lahat ng dumi, na-wash out, dun sana ang take off point to maintain yung hinugasan ng ulan,” he said.
Toxins from vegetation
One of the biggest sources of water for the city is the Sto. Tomas rain basin in Tuba, Benguet. Wadwadan said that the rain basin is one of the main sources of water especially during rainy season.
But open sources such as the Sto. Tomas rain basin faces threats in safety, according to Wadwadan. Greenpeace, an environmental organization, claims that the water from the rain basin is not safe to use because the people living in the area use pesticides and fertilizers for their vegetable gardens.
Wadwadan explained that it is really inevitable for residents to use fertilizers and that this may affect the water contained in the basin but the water district is careful in avoiding contamination of water. He said that the initial rain held by the basin is not used; instead it is flushed away for the basin to be cleaned from toxins for the succeeding downpours. “Yung first na ulan, di talaga namin iniipon, kasi alam natin na may mga naipong pesticides,” he explained.
Wadwadan also explained that residents in the area, plant only during summer season and so whatever it is that was left during that time, it is flushed away in rainy season. “Hindi naman sila magga-garden sa rainy season kaya naiipon na natin yun [tubig],” he said.
He added that the water from the rain basin is being monitored for contamination. He said that BWD cooperates with the city health department and samples water for any contamination. Wadwadan also said that the water district has its own laboratory to perform more tests and that they have a central office inManila
Land claims and illegal settling
Wadwadan also cited that one of the problems faced by the water district regarding watersheds is squatters and the claimants.
One of the problems faced by the city is squatting. Illegal settlers are already hard to control and they even cause problems such as invasion of private and government properties.
Illegal settlers and claimants invade the watershed areas, resulting to denudation of forest cover and therefore weakening the charges in aquifers. It may then lead to contamination of water, Wadwadan said.
According to Wadwadan, the city government, BWD and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, they have taken actions to guard the watersheds from invaders such as fencing out and 24-hour security.
This claim was proven right by the city government and the Baguio Water district when asked about the state of the water in the city. The people, though they may not be aware, threaten the safety of water sources in the city through their activities.
Poisoning of
Although the city government, BWD and various environmental organizations in the city continue their efforts in bringing back the Sagudin-Balili River in its original form, activities of the people in the city continue to pollute the river.
During the water forum, it has been found out that most of the creeks and other tributaries of the river have become garbage disposal for residents of
BWD Watershed/Right of Way Supervisor Joel Wadwadan said that while the Sagudin-Balili River is being polluted, the river becomes toxic thus threatening the underground sources of water located near the tributaries of the river. “It’s at risk pag talagang pinabayaang ma-poison ang river. May chance na mag-infiltrate sa ground [ang toxins] at ma-reach yung aquifer. Madadale ‘yung tubig natin,” Wadwadan explained.
The water district has two sources of water: through watersheds (Busol, Buyog, Camp 8 and Sto. Tomas) and through underground sources or deep wells which are the main source of water in the city. Wadwadan said that there are 64 deep wells along the city which are located near the tributaries of river so it is important to maintain cleanliness in the river.
Wadwadan added that after the rain, wastes in the river and in its tributaries are being washed out so people must take advantage of this to maintain the cleanliness of the river. “Maganda nga sana na pagkatapos ng ulan, malinis ang Balili River, lahat ng dumi, na-wash out, dun sana ang take off point to maintain yung hinugasan ng ulan,” he said.
Toxins from vegetation
One of the biggest sources of water for the city is the Sto. Tomas rain basin in Tuba, Benguet. Wadwadan said that the rain basin is one of the main sources of water especially during rainy season.
But open sources such as the Sto. Tomas rain basin faces threats in safety, according to Wadwadan. Greenpeace, an environmental organization, claims that the water from the rain basin is not safe to use because the people living in the area use pesticides and fertilizers for their vegetable gardens.
Wadwadan explained that it is really inevitable for residents to use fertilizers and that this may affect the water contained in the basin but the water district is careful in avoiding contamination of water. He said that the initial rain held by the basin is not used; instead it is flushed away for the basin to be cleaned from toxins for the succeeding downpours. “Yung first na ulan, di talaga namin iniipon, kasi alam natin na may mga naipong pesticides,” he explained.
Wadwadan also explained that residents in the area, plant only during summer season and so whatever it is that was left during that time, it is flushed away in rainy season. “Hindi naman sila magga-garden sa rainy season kaya naiipon na natin yun [tubig],” he said.
He added that the water from the rain basin is being monitored for contamination. He said that BWD cooperates with the city health department and samples water for any contamination. Wadwadan also said that the water district has its own laboratory to perform more tests and that they have a central office in
Land claims and illegal settling
Wadwadan also cited that one of the problems faced by the water district regarding watersheds is squatters and the claimants.
One of the problems faced by the city is squatting. Illegal settlers are already hard to control and they even cause problems such as invasion of private and government properties.
Illegal settlers and claimants invade the watershed areas, resulting to denudation of forest cover and therefore weakening the charges in aquifers. It may then lead to contamination of water, Wadwadan said.
According to Wadwadan, the city government, BWD and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, they have taken actions to guard the watersheds from invaders such as fencing out and 24-hour security.
