DILG urges prudent water use ahead of El Niño

THE Department of the Interior and Local Government on Tuesday warned of possible shortage of drinking water amid a looming protracted El Niño phenomenon, thus urged the public in general to be circumspect in the daily use of tap water.

Interior director Allan Tabell cited in particular establishments which are heavily dependent on water such as the “water world type” theme parks, swimming pools, and car wash.

“Definitely, kung may projected na kakulangan sa ulan and water supply in the next few months, baka pati iyong tubig na kailangan for human consumption ay magkukulang,” Tabell said in a public briefing.

“It is necessary that at this point when water supply for human consumption is expected to go down, we have to encourage our people to be prudent in using water, Tabell said.

He enjoined the people to avoid being wasteful in water consumption.

“Puwede naman sigurong timba at pamunas lang, I mean, there are many practical measures na puwedeng gawin sa mga negosyo or industries na water intensive na puwede namang actually ma-reduce iyong waste o iyong kailangang i-conserve iyong paggamit ng tubig,” he said.

The DILG was planning to conduct a vigorous information drive on the practical use of water, he said.

“In the end kapag hindi sila handa ay maaari silang maapektuhan kung hindi man sila agricultural, definitely iyong kanilang water consumption na iniinom na tubig o iyong tubig na kailangan nilang gamitin sa household ay baka maapektuhan kung mag-aaksaya sila ng paggamit ng tubig.”

The National Water Resources Board early on said it would prioritize allocating water supply in Angat Dam for domestic use once its levels hit 180 meters.