Golf courses urged to put up rain water harvesting facilities

City officials urged all golf courses in the city to put up their own rain water harvesting facilities as part of their corporate social responsibility.

Under Resolution No. 389, series of 203, city legislators stated that one way to ensure the practice of water conservation is by using rain water more effectively.

The council pointed out that by capturing and storing rainwater for later use, golf courses can reduce their reliance on irrigation and help conserve water, and ensure that their water sourcing strategies are sustainable and secure for long-term use.

The body claimed that golf courses require a significant volume of water to maintain their greens and fairways.

However, with climate change and water shortage becoming increasingly pressing issues, it is important for golf courses to find ways to use water more efficiently.

On the other hand, Resolution No. 388, series of 2023 also requested the Baguio Water District (BWD) to coordinate with the Department of Public works and Highways and the City Engineering Office regarding the recharging of aquifers by rain water harvesting in the city.

According to the resolution, unfortunately, human water demand, both for drinking and agriculture, is negatively impacting the aquifers in the entire world. Humans are using water faster than it takes for the water cycle to replenish underground sources of water.

This situation causes wells to run dry, sinkholes to form, and cause drought that negatively impacts humans, agriculture, among others.

The council explained that every aquifer has a discharge zone, its recharge zones must be protected and sustained with appropriate engineering and technology interventions.

Aquifers are bodies of rock and/or sediment that hold groundwater which can provide usable amounts of water.

An aquifer is filled with moving water and the amount of water in storage in the aquifer can vary from season to season and year to year, but water will eventually discharge or leave an aquifer and must be replaced by new water to replenish or recharge the same. – Dexter A. See