Community Water Project

Tags: potable water, disaster risk mitigation, social services, deep wells, resilience, climate change

Potable water supply in many areas in the Philippines, especially in third class or worse-off municipalities, is inaquate and unreliable. Disasters could exacerbate the situation, leaving people (especially the poor) to fend for themselves and aggravating their health vulnerabilities.

A community water project could help remedy the situation and serve as a measure to mitigate the effects of disasters. It also complements existing municipal water infrastructure.

Kids hauling potable water post-TS Basyang (Feb 2018) in Mainit, Surigao del Norte (photo credit: Mia Salino-Beltran):

A well of about 100-feet (or more) in depth, done by duly accedited driller; water is drawn manually or by solar power or by some mechanical device.

Single or redundant.

• Manual (using jetmatic pump)
• Solar
• “Play” - parallel pumping mechanism integrated in play or workout machines like seesaw, stationary bike, etc.

Options:

• stainless tank
• plastic tank (fiber glass, polyethylene, polypropylene)
• ferro-cement
• concrete

• activated carbon filter
• UV lights
• chlorine or iodine
• reverse osmosis
• slow sand

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• Asian Development Bank (2006). Philippines: Small Towns Water Supply Sector
• Susan Bolich (n.d.). How to Install a Deep-Well Water Pump
• Sheladia Associates (1986). Barangay Water Program II: Final Report.