Public, gov’t institutions urged to conserve water amid drop in dam levels
Credit to Author: jespinosa| Date: Mon, 11 Mar 2019 04:02:01 +0000
MANILA, Philippines — As the water level in La Mesa Dam continues to drop, an environmental group on Monday urged the public to properly conserve water.
Aside from its call to the public, EcoWaste Coalition also urged private and public establishments to intensify its water conservation.
“We join our water authorities in asking households, businesses and government institutions in Metro Manila to use water more wisely amid the declining water level in Angat, Ipo and La Mesa Dams,” Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator of EcoWaste Coalition, said in a statement.
“Let us all aim for zero water waste to reduce the impacts of low water supply during the summer months to the people, especially the poor, and the environment,” she added.
As of 3 p.m. of Sunday, water elevation at the dam had dropped to 68.9 meters, breaching the 69-meter critical low level.
According to Richard Orendain, a PAGASA hydrologist, that level may yet break its lowest ever recorded, which was 68.75 meters in 1998.
“Maybe in two days, this record will be broken,” Orendain said.
READ: La Mesa Dam level, already at lowest in 12 years, continues to drop
With this, EcoWaste released the following tips to the public on how to conserve water:
- Fix dripping tanks, pipes, faucets, showerheads and hoses to prevent water loss.
- Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, lathering with soap or shaving.
- Take shorter showers with a pail and dipper and use just enough water.
- Reuse towels a few times before putting them on the laundry basket.
- Collect grey water from bathing and washing and reuse it to wash the car, clean the garage, maintain sidewalks or flush the toilet.
- Place a brick or water-filled bottle inside the toilet tank to reduce water used in every flush and flush less.
- Collect water dripping from air conditioners and use the collected water for washing mops and rugs, flushing the toilet or watering the plants.
- Leave grass clippings on the lawn as this cools the ground and holds in moisture.
- Spread a layer of mulch around plants and trees to retain water and reduce evaporation.
- Water the plants early in the morning or in the evening when temperature is cooler to minimize water loss.
- Refrain from using the washing machine if only washing a few clothes, do full loads of laundry, and use just the right amount of detergent to avoid extra rinsing.
- Wash fruits and vegetables in a basin and not in running water; reuse the water for watering the plants.
- Save the rice wash for washing the dishes or watering plants.
- Steam vegetables instead of boiling to conserve water as well as preserve their nutrients.
- Thaw frozen meat in the refrigerator overnight, not on running water.
- Use fewer cooking and dining utensils and dishes to reduce water use for washing.
- Choose the proper pan and pot size for cooking as bigger ones may need more cooking water than required.
- Do not let the water run when washing the dishes, fill one basin with wash water and the other with rinse water.
- Soak dirty pans and pots first instead of scraping them in running water.
- Collect and store rainwater for daily chores.