by
Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon Desk
CLARK SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE-An Australian executive here has shown the way on how businesses and households can save on water and money while helping avert a looming water crisis in Central Luzon.
Hans Axthelm does his bit for Mother Nature by harvesting rainwater.
The company he owns, the Hansa Toy International Inc., one of the world's famous stuffed toy makers, gathers the liquid in a water tank capable of storing a million liters every rainy season.
Axthelm, managing director and chief executive officer of Hansa, had this tank built beside the firm's factory on Andres Soriano Street in 1998 or four years after his firm began doing business at Clark's main zone.
The factory's 6,000-square-meter roof catches water that flows directly to the covered tank.
Axthelm pushed the "simple, effective and inexpensive technology" during the recently held Central Luzon summit on integrated water resource management.
The tank's supply, he told policy makers, lasts for eight months.
The company has not drawn groundwater, which is widely used in the region.
Heavy groundwater withdrawal has hastened the sinking of coastal areas in Bulacan, Bataan and Pampanga as well as several cities in Metro Manila, marine geologists Kelvin Rodolfo and Fernando Siringan said as they shared the results of a study that has been ongoing in the last seven years.
"The water is used for drinking, cleaning and bathroom needs of our 270 employees. It's totally safe from any bacteria," Axthelm said.
That's because the tank is properly maintained and not exposed to sunlight.
The tank also provides water for toy production.
Hansa exports its toys to 21 countries in North America, Europe and some parts of Asia.
Appealing to business executives in more than 300 companies here, Axthelm said everyone should take advantage of the volume of rainfall in this part of the Philippines.
This, he said, could help ease water shortage that he said was worst than the depletion of oil.
Scientists expect the water deficit to hit Central Luzon in 2025 when the demand overtakes by half the potential supply of 12.5 million cubic meters.
Axthelm has reaped the benefits of harvesting rainwater.
It saves about P15,000 in the company's monthly water bill. Savings are used to improve the welfare of workers, he said.
In his estimates, the savings in 10 years could reach about P3 million.Philippine Daily Inquirer
