EDITORIAL - Better water management

Thunderstorms have become a regular occurrence, triggering flash floods as summer draws to a close. The devastating floods spawned by torrential monsoon rains and typhoons are still several weeks away. With the elections largely over, authorities can now focus on final preparations for flood control and disaster mitigation.

By now waterways should have been dredged and rid of solid waste that block drainage. Informal settlements along the banks of rivers and other waterways should be dismantled. The worst floods in recent years claimed the highest number of fatalities in informal riverbank settlements. Several of the worst floods were unexpected, hitting cities such as Iligan and Cagayan de Oro from the mountains.

Last week in Thailand, which suffered an estimated $45 billion in economic losses from protracted flooding in 2011, experts called for massive long-term measures to respond to floods in Asia’s megacities. The measures include hefty investments in water management infrastructure, such as major drainage and water recycling projects. The experts pointed out that a third of Singapore’s water supply is recycled, showing the importance of efficient water management.

The measures must not only deal with flooding and waste reduction but also help ensure a steady supply of safe water for booming populations, according to the experts. Last month the Asian Development Bank reported that despite robust economic growth in the Asia-Pacific, close to two-thirds of people in the region do not have clean water piped to their homes.

These areas include Metro Manila, where people in several impoverished communities still rely on communal artesian wells for their household water supply. In these communities, and in many other parts of the country, lack of access to safe water leads to numerous diseases, including common ones that are among the top causes of death among children aged 5 and below. Building the necessary infrastructure for flood control and water management is also an indispensable investment in public health.