THE Baguio City Council is seeking a deeper look into the possibility and viability of putting up more rain catchment facilities in Baguio to address the growing need for water in the city.
In a resolution, the council sought to have the Baguio Water District (BWD) and the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) conduct feasibility studies into the construction of more rain reservoirs in the city.
The BWD previously raised the possibility of the supply of water, especially potable water, being a point of concern, citing problems with chemical contamination of oil and pesticides, as well as decreasing rainfall and increasing temperature leading to water supplies evaporating in greater amounts.
According to the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA), Baguio City is among the top cities in the country in terms of rainfall received annually, reaching up to nearly 4,000 millimeters of rainfall yearly.
The council is looking into the feasibility of establishing more rain catching facilities to supplement the existing Mt. Sto. Tomas facility, which underwent rehabilitation and returned to operation in 2018, as well as another similar facility on the same mountain that recently completed rehabilitation operations.