Quezon City Water: Supply, Sanitation, and Allocation

Group 4 Abraham | Barretto | Chua | Mendoza | Ong

Why Quezon City?

Most of us spend most of our waking lives in Quezon City. Quezon City is the largest city in Manila, and in the Philippines.

Objectives
To grasp the problems of water supply, sanitation and allocation in Quezon City, in relation to one of its major water sources, the La Mesa Dam To relate these three problems to Quezon Citys population To provide possible solutions to these problems

Methodology

Get information:
NSO Pureza Branch Newspaper Articles Internet Articles

Analyze Data
Identify Problems Identify Solutions

Finalize Output

Importance of Water
For Drinking For Maintaining Personal Hygiene For Cooking For Keeping Surroundings Clean For Building Infrastructures For Taking Care of Plants and Crops For Taking Care of Livestock For Taking Care of Fisheries

Water: Daily Consumption

The average Filipino consumes a minimum of 20 liters (4.40 gallons) a day.

For Drinking: 5 liters For Hygiene Maintenance: 10 liters For Cooking: 5 liters

*Based on the groups average personal usage estimate

Quezon City Water Supply

La Mesa Dam
Angat Dam Ipo Dam

Why La Mesa Dam?

Within Quezon City, the focus place. More accessible information than the other two dams.

Basic Information: La Mesa Dam

One of the Primary Sources of Drinking Water in Quezon City Can hold up to 50.5 million cubic meters Occupies an area of 27 kilometers

Photo by: Inquirer.net

Basic Information: La Mesa Dam

Current Elevation: 79.64 M Elevation Capacity: 80.15 M

Main Concerns: La Mesa Dam

Water Supply
Water Quality Water Allocation

Quezon City Population

From National Statistics Office (NSO): Population Growth Rate Density (/km2) 1.92 2.53 2.92 11970.03 13079.61 16121.84

1995 2000 2007

1,989,419 2,173,831 2,679,450

Quezon City Area: 166.2 km2

Doubling Time (2007): 24 years

Assessment: Water Supply

Minimum Daily Consumption (20 L) (2,679,450) = 53,589,000 L Minimum Yearly Consumption (2007) (53,589,000 L) (365) = 1.96 X 1010 L Minimum Yearly Consumption (2031) (1.96 X 109 L) (2) = 3.91 X 1010 L Maximum Water Capacity (50,500,000 m3) (1000 L) = 5.05 X 1010 1 m3

Assessment: Water Supply

However, we cannot get exact conclusions from these numbers because of 5 reasons:

Two other dams supply water to Quezon City La Mesa Dam also supplies other places other than Quezon City Water consumption computed is only for personal water usage (domestic use) Rainfalls and other weather conditions havent been accounted for Daily consumption we computed for per person is a minimum

Assessment: Water Supply

Water Shortages

Few Rainfalls
Bagyong Pedring (2011) Bagyong Ondoy (2010) Bagyong Julian (2008) Heavy Rainfalls

Water Overflows

Assessment: Water Supply

Today, many water shortages and overflows are being experienced by Quezon City residents simultaneously. In the long run, though, it is possible that water supply may no longer be sufficient.

Assessment: Water Quality

Treatment:

La Mesa Water Treatment Plant Balara Treatment Plant

Sanitation Program

QC Health Dept:

Water Disease Deaths

From NSO 2005 Data, only 118 people died by Water-Related Diseases (i.e. Intestinal Infectious Disease). Thats only about 0.0059% of the whole Quezon City population.

Assessment: Water Quality

Water quality is good enough not to cause peoples deaths. As long time residents of Quezon City, we can also say that water quality in Quezon City is good. People who acquire diseases related to water may be caused by improper water handling in private residences.

Assessment: Water Allocation

Water Rationing Problems in 2010

Certain areas only receiving water supply for 6 hours a day

Uneven Water Distribution

Solutions: La Mesa Dam

Water Supply Water Sanitation Water Allocation

Solutions: Water Supply

Releasing Water Before Predicted Days With Heavy Rainfall Cloud Seeding Increasing the Number of Trees Increasing the Dam Size Building Another Dam Site

Releasing Water

For Water Overflows Already Being Done

DISADVANTAGES ADVANTAGES - Only Short Term

- Easy to Do

- Water Loss
- Flooding in Nearby Residences

- Inaccurate PAG-ASA Predictions

Cloud Seeding

For Water Shortages Already Being Done Process: Spreading Dry Ice or Silver Iodide Aerosols in upper parts of clouds to stimulate precipitation Benefits: 6 months 55 mm. of rainwater Cost: $645,000

Cloud Seeding
ADVANTAGES

DISADVANTAGES

Effective Doesnt cost much (relative to national budget) Can also benefit other dams

Can cause water overflows during the rainy season Only short term benefits

Increase the Number of Trees

ADVANTAGES Few costs Can also lessen air pollution Can help control water overflows Can increase nutrients and minerals in the water and soil Long term benefits

DISADVANTAGES Less space for housings and other establishments

Building Another Dam Increasing the Dam Size

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES Can both solve water Long process shortages and Costly overflows Less space for Long term benefits housing and other establishments

Solutions: Water Sanitation

Improving Water Treatment Plants Planting more trees Preventing housing projects that might contaminate water Sanitation Programs

Improving Water Treatment Plants

Balara Treatment Plant

Has been recently renovated

La Mesa Treatment Plant

Stopping Housing Projects

Housing Project

2006: A housing project that was supposed to be done in the La Mesa Watershed was stopped due to strong opposition from the masses and the government

Stopping Housing Projects

Housing Project:

2011: A housing project has been started again last September, with no Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) or building permits. An opposition to the project is currently on the way.

Water Sanitation

The Quezon City Health Department already has an environmental sanitation program wherein the following activities are done:

Inspection of water refilling stations Inspection of households to determine status of those with safe water supply Regular bacteriological analysis of water from different sampling sites in coordination with the National Reference Laboratory (EAMC) and EMB Laboratory (DENR) to determine potability and water supply

Solutions: Water Sanitation

More of maintaining the water quality since it has already been established that water from La Mesa Dam is safe to drink and use

Solutions: Water Allocation

Improve Pipelines

New Pipelines Being Laid by Manila Waters

Synthesis

As the Quezon City population grows through the years, the problems regarding water supply, distribution and sanitation increases.

Synthesis

NSOs population projection for 2007 was around 2.2 million, much lower than the actual population for 2007
More effects on water supply, sanitation and allocation More efficient solutions must be thought of to be able to adjust to these effects

Synthesis

Some of the solutions discussed can be adopted for these problems. However, as population continues to increase, more efficient methods and solutions must be thought of.

References

Heaton, Linda. Water Usage. University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture. 6 March 2012. 1999. www.ca.uky.edu/enri/pubs/usage.pdf. Unnamed Author. The La Mesa Story. ABS-CBN Foundation, Bantay Kalikasan. 6 March 2012. 2008. www.lamesawatershed.com/background.php. National Statistics Office. 2007 Census of Population Report No. 1-N (National Capital Region) Population by Province, City/ Municipality & Barangay. 29 February 2012. January 2009. Print. National Statistics Office. 2000 Census Based National, Regional and Provincial Popn Projections. 29 February 2012. October 2007. Print. National Statistics Office. Vital Statistics Report 2005 Marriages, Births & Deaths in 2005. 29 February 2012. 2006. Print.

Orosa, Michelle. La Mesa Dam in Quezon City overflows, affected

residents told to evacuate. TV 5, Interaksyon. 6 March 2012. 24 June 2011.

References

Aurelio, Julie. Womans skeleton found in La Mesa Dam. Inquirer. 6 March 2012. 24 January 2011. newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/
view/20110124-316371/Womans-skeleton-found-in-La-Mesa-Dam.

Carvajal, Nancy. Body of missing boy found in La Mesa Dam. Inquirer. 6 March 2012. 12 November 2009. newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/
metro/view/20091112-235701/Body-of-missing-boy-found-in-La-Mesa-Dam.

Unnamed Author. Water Supply System. Manila Water Company. 6 March 2012. 2009. www.manilawater.com/section.php?section_id=6&category
_id=35&article_id=6.

See, Aie Balagtas. La Mesa Dam overflow still no cause for alarm official. GMA News TV. 6 March 2012. 5 August 2008. www.gmanetwork.
com/news/story/111547/news/nation/la-mesa-dam-overflow-still-no-cause-foralarm-8211-official.

Unnamed Author. City Health Department. Local Government of Quezon City. 6 March 2012. 2012. http://www.quezoncity.gov.ph/index.php?option
=comcontent&view=article&id=257%3Ahealth&catid=62&Itemid=28.

References

Unnamed Author. Average Water Use Philippines. United Nations Development Program. 6 March 2012. 14 December 2006. www.data360
.org/dataset.aspx?Data_Set_Id=2719.

Unnamed Author. What is cloud seeding?. Weather Street. 6 March 2012. 10 November 2011. http://www.weatherquestions.com/What_is_cloud_
seeding.htm.

Plantilla, Anabelle. Stop the housing project inside the La Mesa Dam Watershed Reservation. The Manila Times. 6 March 2012. 7 January 2012. http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/opinion/columnist1/14609-stop-thehousing-project-inside-the-la-mesa-dam-watershed-reservation.

Felipe, Cecille Suerte. MWSS housing project at La Mesa reservation opposed. The Manila Times. 6 March 2012. 3 May 2006. http://www.manila
times.net/index.php/opinion/columnist1/14609-stop-the-housing-project-inside-thela-mesa-dam-watershed-reservation.

Esguerra, Christian. Water crisis may worsen. Inquirer. 6 March 2012. 20 July 2010. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/201 00720282084/Water-crisis-may-worsen.

References

Unnamed Author. Manila Water starts laying new pipelines. Malaya Business Insight. 6 March 2012. 14 December 2010. http://www.malaya.
com.ph/12142010/busi8.html.

Atencio, Joel. Government readies measures vs. water shortage. Balita. 6 March 2012. 20 July 2010. http://balita.ph/2010/07/20/government-readiesmeasures-vs-water-shortage/.

Espiritu, Emilyn, ed. Introduction to Environmental Science. 6 March 2012. 2007. Print. Linacre and Geerts. Cloud Seeding. University of Wyoming Department Atmospheric Science. 6 March 2012. April 1998. http://www-das.uwyo.edu
/~geerts/cwx/notes/chap09/seeding.html.