Water Consumption and Utilization of Various Sectors in Basco, Batanes, Philippines

Abstract

Increasing population and growing commercial and business establishment translate to rising demand for water. Water is a finite resource needing proper management to continuously provide humans’ basic needs. In the Philippines, the most populated municipality in the northernmost island province, Basco, Batanes, is highly dependent on Racuaranum Spring within Mt. Iraya watershed as its source of water. The municipality faces challenges with its water resource management coupled with the growing water demand from households, commercial establishments, institutions, and tourism. The water utilization of these sectors were recorded and a 10-year projection of their demand and supply were plotted. Sectoral survey, focus group discussion, and the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis were employed to assess their water consumption and utilization. The households extract water for general use from groundwater and from the watershed. The other sectors mostly sourced their water through the Basco Waterworks System (BWWS). With the growing number of water consumers, the demand-supply projection showed a high-water demand in the domestic and commercial sectors surpassing actual and potential supply. To address this, the study suggested enactment of municipal ordinances on proper water resource management and service facilities taking into consideration its growing commercial sector, including but not limited to its tourism industry.