[ Manila Bulletin Online ] April 9, 2008
By MELODY M. AGUIBA
The National Water Regulatory Board (NWRB) is issuing a regulation prohibiting extraction of water from deep wells as groundwater condition in Metro Manila has become extremely critical.
The NWRB order will amend Resolution 904 issued way back in 2004 which covered the same prohibition but only in certain Metro Manila towns and cities.
Diane Dulce F. Garing, Manila Water Company Inc. (MWCI) marketing manager, said the new order will cover this deep well construction ban all over Metro Manila and Rizal towns.
The ban on water extraction from deep wells has become essential considering contaminated groundwater’s critical effect on human health and the environment.
Severe water extraction from groundwater is also causing salty water’s (seawater) intrusion into groundwater and also the very destructive land subsidence.
Dr. Fernando Siringan and Dr. Carlo Arcilla of the University of the Philippines-College of Science indicated that "too much use of groundwater by typical households and establishments—not global warming—was the bigger reason why metropolis is sinking."
This is why certain local government units (LGUs) like Quezon City and San Juan had voluntarily issued limitations on the water extraction from deep wells.
NWRB is no longer processing permits for deep wells. Those that have been constructed illegally are being issued cease and desist orders.
In the 2004 resolution, NWRB decided to revoke water permits for deep well water extraction only in eight Metro Manila critical areas. This included Guiguinto, Bulacan; Bocaue and Marilao, Bulacan; Meycauayan, Bulacan; North Caloocan; Navotas West; Quezon City; Makati; Mandaluyong; Pasig; Pateros; Parañaque; Pasay, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa; and Dasmarinas, Cavite.
These critical areas were identified by the Consultants for Engineering and Science and Technology (CEST) study as early as in 1994, according to Bolet Banal, Quezon City Councilor and groundwater ordinance author.
CEST also indicated that physical and chemical qualities of water in these areas had critical level of lead which causes renal disease and nervous system damage; manganese which stains clothes; skeletal and dental fluorosis-causing fluoride; kidney and brain-damaging mercury; Alzheimer’s-causing aluminum; thyroid brain-damaging cyanide; cancercausing arsenic; and male reproductive tract-toxic boron.
Banal said that a significant 29 percent of Metro Manila’s towal water usage is from groundwater. This consists 33 million cubic meter (MCM) from water concessionaries, 310 MCM from private deep wells, and 14 MCM from shallow wells.
Aside from damage to human health, lead-filled water also destroys equipment (causing rusty and corroded pipes). Since untreated groundwater extracted through deep wells contain metal and other mineral deposits, this can destroy storage tanks, pipes, and other facilities.
Flooding is also a cause of ground water extraction. Floods take longer to subside in Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela due to unregulated pumping of underground sources.
Other adverse effects of excessive ground water extraction are ground deformation causing fissures and enhanced fault lines, increase in high tides in certain areas, increasing flood depths.
__________________________________________________________________
