Groundwater Consumption, Quality and Economics in a Higher Education Institution: A Water Sustainability Initiative

The demand for groundwater in a Higher Education Institution is very imperative since it’s the only source of water, all were drawn from its deep wells and shallow wells. The land areas were all occupied by buildings and concrete roads, only two parks have spaces with soil. Thus, the groundwater consumption, quality, and economics of a Higher Education Institution were evaluated. The mixed methods of research were used, checklist, questionnaire, and secondary data from the different offices were made to gather data on the status of the groundwater consumption in terms of water supply facilities and fixtures, the microbiological and physicochemical properties of groundwater to monitor the water quality, the cost of the extracted and distributed groundwater for its economics, including the problems encountered by the stakeholders on water supply and the proposed groundwater sustainability management plan. The volume of groundwater consumption was computed based on the formulas in the Philippine Plumbing Code, the laboratory tests results were compared with the Philippine National Standard on Drinking Water, and the cost of water facilities and fixtures were taken from the office in charge of infrastructure development. The faculty members, non-teaching personnel, and students were interviewed about the problems encountered in the water supply, and based on the results of the study a Water Sustainability Management initial plan was proposed.