I first learned of this issue when I uploaded a picture of that pond-and-statue at the center of Anahawan park a few months ago. Some commented that there was supposed to be water coming up that statue. After few exchanges of comments, Anahawnons were airing problems of water shortage in their own households.
Since water shortage occurs only at certain times of the day, which is around 6 to 7 am, it appears that the root problem does not really lie on the supply side but on the unbalanced distribution of usage (demand) throughout the day. In the morning, people go to the bathroom, brush their teeth, and cook their food, all at the same time. As a result, flow is reduced at some areas and even to absolutely zero flow in elevated areas. At night, however, there would be abundance of water since the demand will be small.
While other possible causes can be traced to insufficient sizes of major supply pipes and the relatively high elevation of affected areas, there are quick and effective solutions that we can do right at our very homes. Of course, there is the “balde” or “palanggana” method which would eat up your entire bathroom space or service area.
In this townhouse that we are renting, there is this pair of water tanks at the service area at the back. They are actually improvised tanks made of steel drums with approximate volume of 200 liters each. They are raised about 6 or 7 feet above the ground.
These tanks have proved very useful to us since we normally have no water from the main supply line every morning. At night, however, one could fill up dozens of drums in just a matter of hours. The tanks at the back of the house stores water during the night. It seems that water stored in those tanks is sufficient enough for the basic morning use of a household of 4 to 5 members.
Each tank was originally equipped with a float valve that automatically stops water entry when the tank is full and opens when water drops to a certain level. Overtime, due to poor maintenance, these valves became ineffective and no longer close when the corresponding tank is full. For a few days, overflow from these tanks flooded our service area and we were practically paying for these spills and yet, the caretaker still could not fix it. I insisted to just install a manual valve along the pipe.
Laundry needs more water than the 2 tanks could store. So upstream, there is this booster pump that drives water up the tank during laundry days, or whenever the tanks run low or out of water. Electrical controls experts could actually incorporate automation so this pump would automatically shut down when the tanks are full or when the valve is closed. The one that we have, however, does not have this kind of control so we have to switch them on and off manually.
So far, this is practically the most feasible solution that we can have in addressing water shortage during peak demand. Some of our neighbors are using commercial pressure tanks – the one that is installed at ground level and has a pump that keeps the pressure high enough to drive water to all water fixtures in the house including those in the upper floors.
Newly developed housing subdivisions commonly employ water towers, which can also be found at the rooftop of high-rise buildings. Water towers come with a pump that drives water up the tank during low-demand hours.
All of these schemes, the overhead tank, the pressure tank, and the water tower, point to one common principle: store water during low-demand hours so that people will have enough water to use during peak demand hours.
I am curious how these systems would do if we can implement these as projects in Anahawan; or, for those who have these systems in their place, how they have been doing so far. The improvised overhead tanks would be the easiest to implement at the individual level.
The water tower may also come as a good project for affected barangays, not only of the officials but of the people themselves. Water is a necessity, so if this water problem persists, I do not see any reason not to make this project a priority. Maybe in a few months time we will be uploading photos of these towers in Anahawan with nice lines like “A PROJECT OF THE PEOPLE OF ANAHAWAN….” instead of “A PROJECT OF CONGRESSMAN….OR GOVERNOR… ETC”. :-)
These projects could actually save water supply authorities from digging the ground to lay additional pipes or replace the old ones with bigger pipes. It could even save us from an even worse scenario: scouring for other water sources simply because supply rate is not sufficient to meet the population’s demand during peak hours.
It is understood, however, that as population increase, we will still need those bigger pipes and newer sources of fresh water. For the mean time, however, it seems that the household tank or the water tower is yet the more feasible option.
Kindly share also your comments, suggestions, or additional info especially when it comes to project feasibility, costing, specifications, suppliers, contractors, or similar projects in nearby towns.
Disclaimer: This blog article is not a DIY (do-it-yourself) instruction. Due to safety concerns, it is still advised to consult a qualified professional (plumber, electrician, engineer, etc.) before implementing such project. Furthermore, this article is not a project proposal; it is merely a personal suggestion and sharing of experience; scientific or engineering studies or sources may result differently than what is suggested in this article.
