It is time to prepare for more dry days ahead in many parts of the country. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has advised that the El Niño phenomenon may develop in May-June-July but may start to affect the country toward the end of this year. It may start to develop as a weak event and its effects may not be felt immediately. The probability that it may become a strong event is 41 percent.
El Niño is caused by the warming of sea surface temperature in the Pacific and can affect air and sea currents. According to the state weather agency, “El Niño increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall conditions, which could bring negative impacts (such as dry spells and droughts) in some areas of the country. However, over the western part of the country, above-normal rainfall conditions during the southwest monsoon season (habagat) may also be expected.”
There is a “high probability” that most parts of the country may experience “below-normal” rainfall in October this year, based on the latest rainfall forecast of PAGASA.
In the rainfall forecast made public during the climate outlook forum on April 27, PAGASA said that the rainfall will be “generally below-normal in most parts of Luzon and Visayas, while it will be near-normal in Mindanao and the rest of the country.”
With the weather agency anticipating a 41 percent chance of El Niño reaching a “strong” level from November to January next year, people should evaluate their use of water and make plans to cut off unnecessary use of this precious resource.
Many times in the past, and in many parts of the world, restrictions on the use of water were imposed when the dry weather condition brought on by El Niño occurred. City governments would restrict the watering of gardens and plants, and schedule the activity on specific days of the week only. Other cities prohibited filling up of private pools, and even business activities that involve a high water consumption.
The dry spell will deplete water supplies that will severely affect agricultural production. In 2019, El Niño caused a massive decline in rainfall and caused water shortage in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces and damage to agriculture that was reported to reach billions of pesos.
Last week, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) proposed that local government units (LGUs) impose restrictions on businesses and other activities with high water consumption such as car wash stations and those that use inflatable pools, to conserve water in preparation for the expected “strong” El Niño phenomenon.
San Juan City Mayor and Metro Manila Council (MMC) President Francis Zamora said he will call for a meeting with other Metro Manila mayors to discuss the proposal. “We will discuss the steps that we will take to ensure the regulated water use of establishments that have high water consumption amid the expected strong El Niño in the coming weeks or months.”
The responsibility to conserve water rests on everyone. Small initiatives will lead to big results. Start with these measures: Use a glass of water when brushing teeth; reduce time under the shower; use a pail of water and a rag to wash the car; collect rain water.
Let’s not act only when government imposes restrictions on the use of water. We should start now.
