Rainwater harvesting means collecting and saving rainwater for later. It's a good way to save water and not depend too much on regular water sources. Many old civilizations used it, and today, smart groups use it for eco-friendly water management.
SM Foundation, Inc., a part of the SM group focused on doing good for the community, has started using rainwater harvesting in two health centers they fixed up. They did this in Brgy. Irawan Birthing Facility in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, and San Fernando, Cebu Primary Health Care Facility.
Health workers in San Fernando, Cebu Primary Healthcare Facility water the locally sourced plants using the water from the rainwater harvesting system |
SMFI’s Health and Medical Programs proactively implemented this
innovation to help sustain the health of the local community while
preserving the environment.
Ready in times of emergency
Dr. Alfredo P. Manugas VI, Municipal Health Officer and Health
Department Head of San Fernando, Cebu Primary Health Care Facility, said
that while water is crucial to their operations, water supply is not
always available in their municipality, even their center.
“The rainwater harvesting system is essential in our health facility
because the water supply in our municipality is not available 24/7,” he
said. “We are now provided a source of water in times of emergency or
any interruption of water supply. Our staff and visitors can use
rainwater for cleaning, flushing the toilet bowls, and watering the
plants.”
SMFI Health and Medical Programs senior project manager Albert Uy runs through how the system functions. |
SMFI ensures that the facility is convenient and manageable to maximize
its purpose. It operates without electricity, increasing its
sustainability. To harvest water for non-potable use, it collects
rainwater from the roof and gutter. The water is filtered through
vinyl-coated mesh filters to ensure its quality before being stored in
the 800-liter storage tank.
To guide users for safe recycled water use, all faucets connected to the
facility have visible labels. Alongside this innovation, SMFI also used
air-cleaning paints, LED lighting fixtures and appliances, and locally
sourced plants to create a clean and comfortable environment for
patients and health workers.
These green innovations exemplify the SM group’s commitment to the
environment and community health within the broader context of the SM
Green Movement. With the social good impact of the two rainwater
harvesting systems, SMFI targets to replicate this initiative in other
health centers in its pipeline, further improving water security in the
face of challenges.
Health workers use the rainwater harvesting system for their outdoor cleaning needs |
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