Module 05:
The Water Environment
Mayzonee V. Ligaray, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology
University of the Philippines Diliman
Learning Objectives
Explain the importance of water and water
resources to the communities.
Water Sustainability
Introduction to Hydrosphere
Why care about water?
(Source: National Geographic)
Importance and Availability of Water
Water helps sculpt the
Essential for life – can earth’s surface,
Earth’s surface is One of our most poorly
survive only a few days moderate climate, and
covered by 71% water managed resources
without water remove and dilute
waste pollutants
Importance and Availability of Water
Stream flow
Water shortage Flooding Drought Erosion Contamination
variations
Prone to changes in climate and environment.
What is Hydrology?
Hydrology is the science that treats the waters of the Earth, their
occurrence, circulation, and distribution, their chemical and
physical properties, and their reaction with the environment,
including the relation to living things. The domain of hydrology
embraces the full life history of water on Earth.
(Source: US National Research Council, 1991)
The Water Cycle
The water cycle can
also be called the
hydrological cycle.
The figure on the right is the diagram of
the water or hydrological cycle. It shows
how water moves in our environment,
especially watersheds, through several
important processes.
Water is continuously collected,
purified, recycled, and distributed.
The Water Cycle
Climate Change & Anthropogenic Effects
on Water Cycle
Global Warming and Climate Change
What is the difference between
Global Warming and Climate Change?
Global warming is the long-term heating of Earth’s climate system observed since the pre-
industrial period (between 1850 and 1900) due to human activities, primarily fossil fuel
burning, which increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in Earth’s atmosphere. It is
most commonly measured as the average increase in Earth’s global surface temperature.
Climate change is a long-term change in the average weather patterns that have come to
define Earth’s local, regional and global climates. These changes have a broad range of
observed effects that are synonymous with the term.
Impacts of Climate Change on the Hydrologic Cycle
• Evaporation
• Soil Moisture
• Snowfall and Snowmelt
• Precipitation, Storm
Frequency and Intensity
• Groundwater
• Runoff
Impacts of Anthropogenic Activities on the Hydrologic Cycle
Urbanization
- Main anthropogenic activity affecting the hydrologic cycle.
Key aspects of urbanization affecting hydrology may
include:
• Increased flood events associated with impervious (and
effectively impervious) surfaces like cement and asphalt
roads.
• Increased direct water discharges, via wastewater and
industrial effluents
Comparison of runoff rates in natural vs. urban areas
Water Resources
Water Resources
Groundwater – some precipitation that infiltrate the ground and percolates downward
through spaces in soil, gravel, and rock until it reaches the impenetrable layer of rock
Groundwater Systems
Water Resources
Surface water – freshwater from precipitation and snowmelt that flows across the earth’s
land surface and into lakes, streams, wetlands, rivers, estuaries, and ultimately to the
oceans
A watershed/drainage basin/catchment* is an area of
land that drains all the streams and rainfall to a
common outlet such as the outflow of a reservoir,
mouth of a bay, or any point along a stream channel.
Watershed hydrology is the branch of hydrology that
deals with the integration of hydrologic processes at
the watershed scale to determine the watershed
response.
Water Resources in the Philippines
The Philippines has 12 water resources regions. 18 Major River Basins in the Philippines
These regions contain the
18 major river basins in the
country.
In these river basins, there
are 421 principal rivers as
well as 72 lakes and
extensive groundwater
aquifers.
Water Resources in the Philippines
Water Body Classification and Usage of Freshwater
INTENDED BENEFICIAL USE
Public Water Supply Class I – Intended primarily for waters having watersheds, which are
CLASS AA uninhabited and/or otherwise declared as protected areas, and which require only approved
disinfection to meet the latest PNSDW
Public Water Supply Class II – Intended as sources of water supply requiring conventional treatment
CLASS A
(coagulation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection) to meet the latest PNSDW
CLASS B Recreational Water Class I – Intended for primary contact recreation (bathing, swimming, etc.)
[Link] Water for the propagation and growth of fish and other aquatic resources
CLASS C [Link] Water Class II – For boating, fishing or similar activities
[Link] agriculture, irrigation and livestock watering
CLASS D Navigable waters
(Source: DENR-Environmental Management Bureau)
Water Resources in the Philippines
Ambulalacao Lake, Mt. Tabayoc, Benguet (Class AA)
Water Resources in the Philippines
Lake Latep-ngapos, Mt. Tabayoc, Benguet (Class A)
Water Resources in the Philippines
Laguna de Bay: Largest Lake in the Philippines
(Class C)
Early geologists had diverse opinions regarding the origin of Laguna
de Bay. Up to this time, the issue that the lake was previously a
volcanic crater or that it originated through subsidence due to a
volcanic eruption still needs supporting facts. A shallow crater at
the southern end of Talim Island can be found and serves as one
evidence of its volcanic history, i.e., that Laguna de Bay is believed
to have been formed by two major volcanic eruptions between
27,000-29,000 years ago (UP Planades, 2011).
Based on recent findings, Laguna de Bay was once a part of Manila
Bay. This is evidenced by the discovery of drill cores of marine shell
species which can also be found in Manila Bay. These species of
marine shells can also be located in the upper shores of
Bagumbayan (Luneta Park) and in the Marikina Fault in Pasig-
Marikina River junction (Laguna de Bay Master Plan, 1995).
(Source: Laguna Lake Development Authority)
Water Resources in the Philippines
Lake Lanao: Largest Freshwater Lake in the Philippines (Class A)
Lake Lanao is the largest lake in Mindanao, the second largest
in the Philippines and is considered as one of the 15 ancient
lakes in the world. It has five watersheds with rivers and major
tributaries totaling 431 km. The waters from these rivers and
tributaries drain into the lake and goes out through only one
outlet, the Agus River in Lanao del Norte that flows southwest
into Iligan Bay via two channels; Maria Cristina Falls, the largest
waterfall in the country and Linamon Falls. The total area of its
inland water is 336 ha. Lake Lanao has a surface area of about
36,300 ha.
Lake Lanao
A hydroelectric plant installed along Lanao Lake and Agus River
generates 70% of the electricity used by the people of
Mindanao. Agus River supports seven (7) hydroelectric power
plants of the National Power Corporation (NPC) with a
combined capacity of 727 megawatts.
(Source: DENR-Forestry)
Water Resources
Ocean or seawater – a huge “storehouse” of water which contributes an estimated of
about 90% of evaporated water into the water cycle.
Water Resources in the Philippines
Water Body Classification and Usage of Marine Waters
CLASSIFICATION INTENDED BENEFICIAL USE
[Link] Waters – Waters designated as national or local marine parks, reserves, sanctuaries and
other areas established by law (Presidential Proclamation 1801 and other existing laws), and/or
CLASS SA
declared as such by appropriate government agecncy, LGUs, etc.
[Link] Water Class I – Suitable for shellfish harvesting for direct human consumption
[Link] Water Class II – Waters suitable for commercial propagation of shellfish and intended as
spawning areas for milkfish (Chanos chanos) and similar species
CLASS SB [Link] Zones – For ecotourism and recreational activities
[Link] Water Class I – Intended for primary contact recreation (bathing, swimming, skin
diving, etc.)
[Link] Water Class III – For the propagation and growth of fish and other aquatic resources and
intended for commercial and sustenance fishing
CLASS SC
[Link] Water Class II – For boating, fishing or similar activities
[Link] and/or mangrove areas declared as fish and wildlife sanctuaries
CLASS SD Navigable waters
(Source: DENR-Environmental Management Bureau)
Use of Water Resources
• According to hydrologists: 2/3 of the annual surface runoff is lost by
seasonal floods – not available for human use; remaining 1/3 is reliable
surface runoff
• Withdraw 34% of the world’s reliable runoff:
• Agriculture – 70%
• Industry – 20%
• Domestic – 10%
• Because of increased population growth, global withdrawal rates of surface
water could reach more than 70%-90% of the reliable runoff in 2025
Freshwater Shortage
Causes of water scarcity:
dry climate, drought, and
population growth
Stresses on world’s major
river systems
1 out of 6 people have no
regular access to clean
water
Poverty hinders access to More than 30 countries—most of them in the Middle
water East and Africa—now face water scarcity.
By 2050, some 60 countries, many of them in Asia, with
three-fourths of the world’s population, are likely to be
Hydrological poverty suffering from water stress.
Increasing Freshwater Supplies
o Increase water supplies in water-short areas, mostly by withdrawing groundwater
o Transport service water from one area to another
o Convert saltwater to freshwater (desalination)
o Reduce unnecessary waste of water
o Build dams and reservoirs to store runoff in rivers for release as needed
Groundwater Withdrawals
Advantages Disadvantages
• Useful for drinking and irrigation • Aquifer depletion from overpumping
• Available year-round • Sinking of land from overpumping
• Exists almost everywhere • Polluted aquifers for decades or
• Renewable if not overpumped or centuries
contaminated • Saltwater intrusion into drinking
• No evaporation losses water supplies near coastal areas
• Cheaper to extract than most • Reduced water flows into surface
surface waters water
• Increased cost and contamination
from deeper wells
Water Treatment
Water Treatment: Sewage Treatment Systems
• Before discharge, water from sewage
treatment plants usually undergoes
bleaching (remove water coloration) and
disinfection (kill disease-carrying bacteria
and some viruses).
• Disinfectants: chlorine, ozone, ultraviolet
radiation
Large Dams and Reservoirs
Large Dams and Reservoirs
Angat Dam in Bulacan La Mesa Watershed in Quezon City
Water Resources Sustainability
Water Resources Sustainability
Water resources sustainability is the ability to use water in sufficient quantities and
quality from the local to the global scale to meet the needs of humans and ecosystems
for the present and future to sustain life, and to protect humans from the damages
brought about by natural and human-caused disasters that affect sustaining life. (Mays,
2007)
Facets that must be considered in water resources sustainability:
• Availability of freshwater supplies
• Infrastructure to provide water supply
• Infrastructure for clean water and for water treatment
• Adequate institutions for water management and water excess management
• Local, regional, national, and international basis
• Implementation of integrated water resources management (IWRM)
Water Resources Sustainability
SDG until 2030: GOAL 6. CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION
Ensure access to water and sanitation for all
Target 6.1: Safe and affordable drinking water
Target 6.2: End open defecation and provide access to sanitation and
hygiene
Target 6.3: Improve water quality, wastewater treatment and safe reuse
Target 6.4: Increase water use efficiency and ensure freshwater supplies
Target 6.5: Implement integrated water resources management
Target 6.6: Protect and restore water-related ecosystems
Target 6.A: Expand water and sanitation support to developing
countries
Target 6.B: Support local engagement in water and sanitation
management
Water Resources Sustainability
SDG until 2030: GOAL 14. LIFE BELOW WATER
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources
Target 14.1: Reduce marine pollution
Target 14.2: Protect and restore ecosystems
Target 14.3: Reduce ocean acidification
Target 14.4: Sustainable fishing
Target 14.5: Conserve coastal and marine areas
Target 14.6: End subsidies contributing to overfishing
Target 14.7: Increase the economic benefits from sustainable use of
marine resources
Target 14.A: Increase scientific knowledge, research and technology for
ocean health
Target 14.B: Support small scale fishers
Target 14.C: Implement and enforce international sea law
Take care and stay safe! J