By Francis Neil G. Jalando-on

CPU has installed rain-catchment devices in some buildings in order to save water.

To save water, Central Philippine University, through the efforts of President Dr. Teodoro C. Robles, has installed rain-catchment devices in some buildings.

According to Engr. Rhett Baldonado, Supervisor of Facilities Maintenance & Services, about five years ago, Dr. Robles instructed him that CPU will use the roofs of several buildings to save water. The rainwater that comes from the roof of the Loreto D. Tupaz Building (College of Nursing) goes to a water cistern at the back. This cistern can hold 117,000 liters of rainwater.

Another building that has this rain-catchment system is the Henry Luce III Library. The rainwater from the library goes to two cisterns – one at its side, and another at the front of the Swimming Pool. Combining the two cisterns, it can hold up to 88,000 liters of rainwater.

The rainwater from the roof of the Rose Memorial Auditorium goes to its water tanks. This is then ready to be used by the comfort rooms of the auditorium. The four elevated tanks can hold up to 54,000 liters of rainwater.

Recently, the new roofing of the CPU Elementary Building has a pipe that brings rainwater to the water tanks, and then down to the comfort rooms. There is also an ongoing plan to install more rain-catchment devices in other buildings.

All the water from the cistern is pumped up to several water tanks. This water is then distributed to be used in the comfort rooms on the campus. All in all, CPU saves about 259,000 liters of water because of these rain-catchment systems that CPU has. All it takes is just about 30 minutes of continuous rain to fill all the cisterns and tanks.