Naga intensifies water conservation drive ahead of Super El Niño

ACTING on a directive issued by Mayor Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo months ago, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) has intensified further its information, education and communication (IEC) campaign to raise public awareness of the impending prolonged drought, its potential adverse effects, and the necessary measures residents must take to conserve water and prepare for possible shortages.

The campaign comes as the city braces for the effects of the anticipated Super El Niño, which could further deplete groundwater reserves and reduce the water flowing from creeks and other sources originating from Mt. Isarog.

Raynor Rodriguez, CDRRMO chief, urged residents to start conserving water despite the continued availability of water in their homes, warning that many might not fully appreciate the seriousness of the situation until their faucets begin to run dry.

Rodriguez said intermittent rainfall should not be taken as an assurance that Naga City will be spared from the effects of El Niño. Although rain occasionally falls over the city, he explained that the volume may not be sufficient to replenish groundwater reserves, particularly given the limited rainfall recorded in October.

He added that the decline in groundwater levels is difficult to quantify precisely because the depletion occurs beneath the surface and cannot be readily observed.

Rodriguez also clarified that El Niño can occur alongside the Northeast Monsoon, locally known as amihan, as well as localized thunderstorms and typhoons. The occurrence of rain, therefore, does not necessarily mean that the effects of prolonged dry conditions have been averted.

To help households conserve water, Rodriguez encouraged residents to use a basin when washing dishes instead of allowing water to run continuously from the faucet.

He estimated that a household could save at least one liter of water per dishwashing session by adopting this simple practice. If 50,000 households each saved one liter per session, the city could conserve approximately 50,000 liters in one round of dishwashing. Assuming each household washes dishes three times daily, the potential savings could reach 150,000 liters a day.

Robredo said widespread adoption of water-saving practices could help slow the depletion of available water sources as the city prepares for the anticipated dry spell.

Based on weather forecasts cited by the mayor, the effects of Super El Niño could begin affecting Naga City in November and become more pronounced in December and January 2027.

She warned that if drought conditions persist for three months, households could experience inadequate water supplies even if the city’s water sources do not completely dry up.

The Metro Naga Water District (MNWD) has reported that water availability has already declined by approximately 30 percent as of November, underscoring the need for early conservation measures.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez said the city government is also preparing water containers, including drums intended for distribution to residents for emergency use, particularly during incidents such as fires.

However, he acknowledged that procuring the drums has become difficult because of high demand.

The CDRRMO is urging residents to adopt water conservation practices now rather than wait until supply shortages become more severe.