DENR urges public to conserve water

CEBU, Philippines - Amidst fears of looming water shortage during summer, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 has urged the public to conserve water and, at the same time, protect the rivers and lakes.

DENR-7 has organized “Walking for Water” in celebration of the World Water Day. Participants will walk starting from the Capitol grounds to the Ayala Terraces at 6:00 to 9:00  a.m. today.

The agency has also scheduled coastal and river cleanup on March 23 from 6:30 to 11:00 in the morning. Among the rivers, creeks and coastal waters to be cleaned are the Butuanon River, Hipodromo Creek, Jagobiao Creek, Tipolo Creek, Sabang River/Lugot River, Guindarohan River, Pilipog-Gabi River, Luknay Creek, Sapangdaku River, Cantabaco Bay, and Buanoy River.

DENR-7 executive director Isabelo R. Montejo said that it is important to adopt and practice water conservation measures as a way of life and not just during the summer months.

“Every drop of water we save can spell a life to some of our countrymen in far-flung areas in need of water to drink and to keep them away from sickness,” said Montejo.

Montejo also urged the public to continue planting trees saying that trees are important in cleaning the atmosphere, replenishing our water bodies, and in mitigating global warming.

Montejo said water becomes even more essential and very precious during the hot summer months as the human body is 70 percent water and we should replenish the water we lose when we perspire by drinking even more.

Like air, Montejo said water is essential to sustain life.

“Man can survive without food for 40 days but cannot survive without water for four days. All our cells and organs that make up our anatomy depend on water for proper and healthy functioning,” he said.

About 53 percent of pollution load of rivers comes from domestic wastes, he said.

Aside from pollution, other reasons cited by Montejo for the looming water shortage are over-extraction of groundwater, dwindling supply of surface water due to neglect of watersheds and over-exploitation of forest resources.

He also cited climate change as a big threat to the world’s water resources. — (FREEMAN)