Dabawenyos should protect water sources before it dries up

Water may cover over 70% of the earth’s surface but Dabawenyos should disabuse their minds and stop believing that water is an infinite resource because it is not.

“Dabawenyos are very lucky because we have one of the cleanest potable water in the world---the second actually,” councilor Rachel Zozobrado said. However, she added, we should learn how to use our water wisely and protect our water sources from contaminants.

The world’s water supply is being depleted at an alarming rate and we should not think that we here in Davao are exempted from this worldwide phenomenon, she said. Just recently, Zozobrado said, the United States has admitted that at least 36 States are set to face water shortage in the next five years due to the drying up of their water sources as a result of drought, rising temperatures, urban sprawl, population growth excessive use and waste of water.

The Davao City Water District has already admitted that it is not comfortable with the 70-year lasting capacity projection on underground water sources. DCWD is thus undertaking studies to search for alternative sources of potable water supply. As if this was not enough, a study conducted by the Ateneo de Davao University and the DCWD confirmed the presence of pesticide in the city’s premier watersheds.

“This should be a wake up call to all of us to protect out water sources considering the growing population of Davao and the increasing industrialization of the city,” she said. We should put a premium and prioritize the safety of our water sources if we do not want to end up like the US, Australia, Africa and other countries faced with water shortage, she said. It is not only the US that is experiencing water shortage problems because even Australia is in the middle of a 30-year dry spell.

Zozobrado said the fact that Asia has 60% of the world’s population but we only have about 30% of the world’s fresh water supply. That is a very macro way of viewing the impending water problem but we can confront it by looking at our own water sources, she said.

She said DCWD has opposed the Hedcor-proposed hydroelectric power plants in Tamugan and Panigan rivers despite Hedcor’s assurance that it would not affect the city’s water supply because it already foresees a brewing water problem even without the plant.

“An increase in demand, the presence of pesticides in our water and now the planned construction of a power plant right on top of our water source may just put too much pressure on our aquifers and we would have to rue our decisions later on.” Zozobrado said.