Pinoy technology turns rainwater into clean water

Aiming to provide sufficient water supply for Filipinos, a local scientist has developed a technology that could collect and treat rainwater for daily use.

Science and Technology Undersecretary Fortunato de la Peña said the technology dubbed “Innovative Rain Water Harvesting System” was a brainchild of Antonio Mateo, former dean of Adamson University.

De la Peña said Mateo received a P2-million grant from the Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development (PCIERD) of the Department of Science and Technology for the fabrication of catch basins or tanks.

De la Peña said the water collected would serve as an alternative source of clean water for communities.

“We want to pilot Mr. Mateo’s technology in public schools so they would not encounter problems on water supply,” he said.

For his part, DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Graciano Yumul said the water may be used for domestic and industrial use to lessen dependency on expensive commercial water and make use of abundant water from rain.

Yumul said a catch basin would be installed to gather rainwater, especially during typhoons, to prevent water from being wasted or running to the ground.

He said PCIERD is enhancing Mateo’s technology to enable it to produce safe drinking water.

Nathaniel Cruz, weather branch chief of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, said 50 percent of the country’s annual rainfall comes from tropical cyclones.

International scientists earlier reported that water scarcity is one of the major effects of global warming.

“Sea level rise is projected to increase salt-water intrusion into groundwater in some regions, affecting drinking water and agriculture in coastal zones,” a report said.

“Increased extreme weather means more water falls on hardened ground unable to absorb it, leading to flash floods instead of a replenishment of soil moisture or groundwater levels,” it added.