CHAPTER I

PROPOSED UNDERGROUND WATER STORAGE FACILITY IN BULACAN

STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS 2
Introduction
The world is constantly changing in different ways. These changes may be for
the better or worse of the society but most of the things happening right now due to
activities of mankind are harmful to the environment. One of the most noticeable and
influential is about climate change that is one of the major causes of water shortage
and flooding.
A flood is an overflow of water that submerges land that is usually dry. It may
occur as overflow of water from water bodies, such as river, lake, or ocean, in which
the water over tops or breaks levees, resulting in some of that water escaping its usual
boundaries. It may also occur due to an accumulation of rain water unsaturated
ground in the area of flood.
The primary effects of flooding include loss of life, damage to buildings and
other structures, roadways, and canals. It can also damage power transmission and
sometimes power generation. This includes loss of drinking water treatment and water
supply, which may result in loss of drinking water or severe water contamination. It
may also cause the loss of sewage disposal facilities. Lack of clean water combined
with human sewage in the flood waters raises the risk of waterborne diseases.
Is it not ironic that flooding happens with the occurrence of heavy rains yet
our country experiences severe water shortages even during rainy seasons?
Bulacan is one of the areas affected by high tides and floods often but
experiences shortage in useable water supply.

The negative mindset of the people with the solutions done to reduce the
effects and damages of flooding also arises as a problem. Many efforts were done, but
it seems that the results of the studies and researches made to resolve the problem of
flooding are good only for a short period of time.
When the solutions to the matter of flooding are brought up, the primary idea
that comes to a persons mind is to make his house stand at a higher elevation than the
others who experience flooding. Another is to construct roadways and drainage canals
that have higher elevations than the previous ones. However, these may not be the
only feasible projects that can be done to help lessen the risk of flooding. In some
cases, when the above mentioned projects are completed, the areas nearby with lower
elevations may take severe backwash which is actually not good for civil engineering
practice.
With the problem of the shortage in the supply of usable water, in many
occasions, pumps are installed and connected to the local water line to increase the
pressure in the pipes in order to enjoy the enough supply of water that a household
needs.
Storage is usually the most expensive component of a rainwater system and
often determines the type of filtration and pumping system. Rainwater storage tanks
are more important in semi-arid areas than any other areas because they are useful in
storing limited water supplies for agricultural purposes. In semiarid regions, where
precipitation is low or infrequent during the dry season, it is necessary to store the
maximum amount of rainwater during the wet season for use at a later time,
especially for agricultural supply. One of the methods frequently used is the
underground storage tanks. The in situ technology consists of making storage

available in areas where the water is going to be utilized. All rainfall harvesting
systems have three components: a collection area, a conveyance system, and a
storage area. In this application, collection and storage is provided within the
landscape.
In contrast to surface tanks, underground tanks are invisible, are unaffected
by any weather, and can last indefinitely. Plumbing and pre-filtration is
straightforward, even for large roofs with multiple downspouts. Since underground
tanks provide a cool, dark environment inhospitable to algae and microbial growth,
they are always preferred when rainwater is to be reused inside buildings. On the
other hand, underground storage is usually two to three times as expensive as surface
storage and involves significant excavation which can be problematic for sites with
large rocks or high groundwater.
Typical underground plastic water storage tanks are simply septic tanks made
with FDA grade plastics and re-labeled as cisterns. While these tanks may work well
as holding tanks for low-yield wells, or as holding tanks for fire control, most are not
sufficiently strong to remain empty for any period of time and are not suitable for
rainwater storage systems. We offer a range of underground tanks suitable for
rainwater storage, each of which has been engineered to remain empty indefinitely
without risk of collapse. Most also include specialized features for rainwater
harvesting such as access ways large enough to accommodate filters and controls or
flat surfaces to permit large diameter penetrations both top and bottom.
www.conservationtechnology.com/rainwater_storage.html
The purpose of this study is to create a water storage facility in Bulacan State
University Campus 2 that will serve as a temporary storage for rainwater runoff.

There will be a more efficient flood control system in the university. Depending on
the size that comes out to be most economical in design, this underground water
storage facility can supply water for many nearby structures. This will provide
comfort to the people especially the students who are using toilet rooms daily that
they will no longer experience times when there is no supply of water in the comfort
rooms.
The results of this study will prove that there are plenty ways to reduce the
risk of flooding in a particular area and at the same time help to provide an alternate
source of water supply to nearby structures.
Similar projects were already made which were performed successfully in
other places in the Philippines and in other countries. If this case is proven to be
feasible and effective, the community can change its thinking of the limited ways to
counter flooding and water shortages.
The things that should be learned in this study are:
1. Location is the key to success, so take the time to find the right property and
geology.
2. Make the recharge facility a place to visit for public education and recreation.
3. Team up with other city departments to maximize the use of the property.
Managed Aquifer Recharge Symposium January 25-26, 2011 Irvine, California
This study can also help reduce shortage in water supply because the rainwater
that causes discomfort to people will temporarily be stored and will be treated
eventually for other useful and convenient purposes. There are several ways to
recover the water collected in the water storage facility. Treated water can be used to

flush university comfort rooms, to clean corridors and hallways, to water plants, and
to provide water readily available as fire reserve.
Statement of the Problem
One of the most encountered problems in Bulacan State University is flood. It
is uncomfortable to walk or to travel from one place to another since students and
professors shoes will be badly soaked in flood.
Why does flood occur?
How is it possible to prevent or stop this man-made disaster?
1. Will the construction of the proposed underground water storage facility reduce the
risk of flooding in the BulSU Campus 2?
2. Can the water collected by the underground water facility be treated and reused for
other purposes?
3. It what ways can the water collected in the facility, if successfully treated, be used
again?
4. What should be the capacity of the facility for the university to maximize its use at
the least cost?
5. What other types of structures can the proposed underground water storage facility
support?
Objectives of the Study
1. To reduce the risk of flooding in the BulSU Campus 2 by means of providing a
water storage facility.

2. To be able to treat and reuse collected rainwater for useful purposes.

3. To be able to find ways how to reuse the collected rainwater for useful purposes.
4. To be able to design the most economical water storage facility.
5. To be able to identify other types of structures that the water storage facility can
support.
Significance of the Study
The target of this study is to contribute to the field of research of developing
facilities to aid in the control of rainwater. It will also be beneficial to the following:
Environment

Water will be conserved by treating and reusing the water collected in the
underground water storage facility. The pressure on the groundwater table in
supplying water to different structures will be lessened by the creation of the
facility that can serve as an alternative supply of water.

Government

The feasibility of the construction of the underground water storage facility

will aid the government in conducting the different researches for something
that will aid the shortage of usable water supply.

Water Distribution System

The construction of an underground water storage facility inside the campus

will act not only as rainwater harvester during rainy seasons to reduce the risk
of flood but also as an alternative source of water supply which can serve

several functions and which will decrease the load of the water distribution
system in the nearby structures.
Community

There will be enough supply of water for the community just about the facility
to use in everyday consumption caused by the reduction of the load in the
supply system. Flood that causes damage to properties will be reduced
substantially.

Engineers

Awareness on the feasibility of the construction of these structures in different

areas to help develop more innovations to create more solutions regarding the
problems in flooding.

Students

The results of this study can be further used as reference to the researches to
be made in the future about topics similar to this project and will help future
students who will conduct classes in the BulSU Campus 2.

Scope and Limitations

The study will mainly focus on how to apply the possible advantages of the
proposed water storage facility that will be beneficial to the community and the
environment as well. Some of the benefits are the reductions of water bills, demand
on ground water usage, flood, and soil erosion.
The only limitation of this project is that it has limited space for storage of
rainwater and it cannot be constructed beneath an existing building or structure.

Definition of Terms

Backwash water thrown backward by the motion of oars, propellers, paddle,

wheels, etc.
Feasible capable of being done, effected, or accomplished
Storage facility
Flood a large amount of water covering an area of land that is usually dry; a

large amount of things that come or happen at the same time

Levees an embankment for preventing flooding; a continuous dike or ridge;

a river landing place

Unsaturated capable of absorbing or dissolving more of something; not

saturated
Sewage waste material (such as human urine and feces) that is carried away
from homes and other buildings in a system of pipes

Conceptual Framework

INPUT

Knowledge
Requirement
Project Location
Project Elements
- Monitoring Wells
- Piezometer Wells
- Performance Data
Recovery Plan

PROCES
S
Master Plan Established
Major
Elements for Design
Phase
Site analysis
Initial
programming
Departmental
coordination
Workshops
Public
participation
Site plan
development
Permitting

OUTPUT

A design of a

sustainable and
economical
underground water
storage facility to aid
the reduction of risk
of floods and provide
an alternative source
of water supply.