Filtering water

Filter water with mud

Reverse Osmosis

Party lister Palmones Bats for Rainwater

A lawmaker has filed a bill requiring all government building construction to have rain harvesting facilities. House Bill 5494 authored by Rep. Angelo Palmones (Party-list-AGHAM) mandates all new government buildings to incorporate in their designs rainwater harvesting and storage facilities. Palmones said the measure seeks to prescribe such rainwater harvesting and storage facilities to be constructed in all old government buildings.

Ferrocement rainwater tank

Ferro cement tank building in pictures.

Palmones proposed bill on Rainwater collection

Bill requires new government buildings to have rain-harvest facilities By Paolo Romero The Philippine Star Updated December 29, 2011 12:00 AM 0 comment to this post MANILA, Philippines - A party-list lawmaker has filed a bill requiring all new government buildings to have rain-harvesting facilities as effects of climate change include abnormal amount of rainfall. House Bill 5494 authored by Agham party-list Rep. Angelo Palmones mandates all new government buildings to incorporate in their designs rainwater-harvesting and storage facilities. He said the measure seeks to prescribe such rainwater harvesting and storage facilities to be constructed in all old government buildings, too. Citing a report of the United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organization, Palmones said the study indicated that 1.1 billion people live without clean drinking water while 2.6 billion people lack adequate sanitation, which resulted in the death of 1.8 million from diarrheal diseases. “The inadequate supply of water also has great effects on food security because expected water withdrawals for irrigation which represent 66 percent of all withdrawals and aquatic ecosystems and their dependent species are at risk of extinction,” Palmones said. He said water crises are a matter of having too much or too little in the country, adding that “during the rainy season when typhoons come there is too much water and it often results in flooding while during the summer months there is too little of it or none at all resulting in droughts.” In filing the bill, Palmones cited the policy of the State to provide adequate supply of clean and unpolluted water for domestic purposes and for sanitation to reduce health risks. The State shall take necessary measures to capture rainwater and stave off potential water crises, he said. “Climate change is upon us and there is no escaping its impacts and one of its impacts is the changing weather patterns. Typhoons bring more rains as never before as exemplified by typhoons ‘Pedring’ and ‘Quiel’ that caused flooding in a wide swath of area in Regions 1, 2, 3 and in Metro Manila,” he said. Palmones said these changing weather patterns with respect to rain emphasize the importance of managing water. One way of doing this is to harvest rain for various uses such as but not limited to flushing toilets and gardening purposes. “It is not only a way of adapting to climate change but also a way of reducing costs in maintaining buildings,” he said. Under the measure to be known as the Rain Harvesting Facility of Government Buildings Act of 2011, the Department of Public Works and Highways is mandated to disapprove designs of public buildings that do not contain rain-harvesting and storage facilities and to ensure that these are included in the actual construction of the buildings. Local government units shall not issue permits to government building construction projects that do not incorporate rainwater-harvesting and storage facilities. Under the bill, approved building designs without incorporating the rainwater-harvesting and storage facilities in the design shall be penalized with a P200,000 fine or imprisonment of six months or both. Also, the non-construction of rain-harvesting and storage facilities that are actually incorporated in the design of the building shall incur the same penalty. Further, the signatory who issued the building permit for the construction of government buildings found to have not incorporated the rain-harvesting and storage facilities shall be punished with a P200,000 fine or imprisonment of six months or both.

Rainwater bill by Palmones

If enacted into law, “Rain Harvesting Facility of Government Buildings Act of 2011” requires the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to reject designs of public buildings that do not have rain-harvesting and storage facilities.

Economy of rainwater collecting

Economic analysis showed that the cost of the rainwater harvesting system could be recovered in two years at most. Cost of the system could be significantly lower if more than three families would share in the construction and that the harvested rainwater would be utilized for purposes other than for drinking. Demonstrating the importance of the system to the community, neighboring families were convinced that it provided water for drinking purposes microbiologically safer than the existing water they have been drinking for years. Result of the survey confirmed the desire of the community to put up similar system as they stressed that their health is of paramount importance and subscribed that the construction cost is not an issue at all. Local government units were likewise of the perception that the system would work in the locality and that they are willing to support the initiative of making the system an important and innovative part of their development plan. Keywords: water, water scarcity, rainwater harvesting,

Filipino Inventor

Rainwater harvesting

Building your own rainwater collecting system

Building your own rainwater collecting system, using a 210 liters blue drum.

Rainwater Ponds

Let me tell you a story. One day, UN scientists announced that in three days, because of rapid climate change and an impending 20-meter sea level rise, there would be massive floods all over the world. The leader of the United States announced that in three days, they would build huge boats that would accommodate all of the 300 million people of America. Thus, they would all be saved. The leader of China announced that in three days, all 1.3 billion people of China would evacuate to the Himalayas. Thus, they would all be saved. The leader of the Philippines went on a trimedia blitz and said: “My countrymen, the scientists tell us that after three days, we will all be underwater because of floods and a 20-meter sea level rise. My beloved countrymen, we still have three days to learn how to breathe underwater.” We Filipinos are resilient and adaptable. We only need proper guidance.

Republic Act 6716

http://www.gov.ph/1989/03/17/republic-act-no-6716/ AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF WATER WELLS, RAINWATER COLLECTORS, DEVELOPMENT OF SPRINGS AND REHABILITATION OF EXISTING WATER WELLS IN ALL BARANGAYS IN THE PHILIPPINES SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy.—It is hereby declared to be the national policy to promote the quality of life of every Filipino through the provision of adequate social service including, but not limited to, the provision of adequate potable water supply made conveniently available to every barangay in the country.

Rainwater Collecting System

This blogspot is inspired by the age-old tradition practice of our ancestors rainwater collection. I think this practice helped our species survived. More posts will follow in the next few days.