2.

1 PHILIPPINES
Water Management and Flood Control in the Philippines
The Philippines is an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands, has difficulties in managing its
water resources and preventing flooding. Its topography, which includes mountains, frequent
typhoons, and a tropical climate makes it particularly vulnerable to flooding.

The Philippines was confronted with the following challenges:

Typhoons- There are about 20 typhoons on average every year in the Philippines, many of
which produce significant rainfall and extensive flooding.
Deforestation- Prolonged deforestation has accelerated runoff and caused soil erosion, which
has made flooding worse.
Urbanization- Settlements are invading floodplains because of rapid urbanization, which makes
them more vulnerable.
Inadequate Infrastructure- Flooding is caused by outdated infrastructure, insufficient drainage
systems, and insufficient water storage capacity.
Climate Change- The problem is made worse by rising sea levels and more frequent and
powerful downpour occurrences.

The Philippines has implemented various strategies to address these challenges:

Construction of Dams- In the Philippines, dams are significant
pieces of infrastructure used for inland navigation, irrigation,
electricity, and flood control. Most of the nation's significant dams
were created using a variety of international design principles or
rules. Since the nation has not yet produced a standardized design
code for dams, international codes are used as the primary
foundation for design. Dams are constructed to control flooding,
manage water flow, and supply irrigation. Angat Dam, La Mesa
Dam, and Pantabangan Dam are examples of significant dams.
Flood Control Structures- To redirect floodwaters and safeguard
settlements, drainage canals, levees, and floodwalls are built. Many
times, flood control systems are made to last for several decades.
The effectiveness and durability of flood control systems are
impacted by several climate stressors, such as variations in
precipitation, rising sea levels, extreme weather, and storm surges
that follow. The peculiarity of flood control structures is that the same
stresses they are intended to bear can also weaken them.
Early Warning Systems- The frequency and intensity of extreme local weather occurrences,
like locally restricted severe rainfall, are rising, yet the national warning centers frequently fail to
record them. Water levels in small and medium-sized river basins can increase quickly, which
sometimes leaves little time for warning messages to be sent out. Local government
organizations and their communities face significant challenges due to inadequate registration
of these recurrent events and a lack of effective coping mechanisms. The government has put
 in place early warning systems and a network of meteorological
stations to send out accurate warnings about approaching floods
and typhoons.
Watershed Management- In the Philippines, watersheds play a
crucial role in providing essential services like irrigation water,
biodiversity preservation, hydroelectric generation, and upkeep of
rivers, lakes, wetlands, and coastal ecosystems. The Philippines
has a large number of watersheds that are in various levels of
degradation due to issues with soil erosion, erratic streamflow
patterns, depleting groundwater supplies, biodiversity loss, and
decreasing land productivity. Watershed management is being
done to better retain water and lessen soil erosion.
Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)- The goal of
integrated water resources management is to maximize economic
and social welfare in a fair way while maintaining the sustainability
of important ecosystems. It does this by encouraging the
coordinated development and management of water, land, and
related resources. To guarantee the availability and sustainable
management of water resources throughout the nation, it makes
sure that all government initiatives and regulatory actions are
integrated and coordinated. The government encourages a
comprehensive strategy for managing water resources that considers availability, demand, and
environmental preservation.

REFERENCES
1. Esquire Philippines
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/10-Major-Dams-Philippines-a1057-20240725-
lfrm?s=4i1i3g0lprj49q4nlo4d4rk894
2. Republic of the Philippines News Agency
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1144007
3. Global Initiative on Disaster Risk Management
https://www.gidrm.net/en/products/local-flood-early-warning-systems
4. Fostering Education and Environment for Development, Inc
https://feed.org.ph/engagement-activities/ridge-to-reef-r2r/
Reference for photos:
1. Travel to the Philippines
https://www.traveltothephilippines.info/2012/12/03/the-powerful-pantabangan-dam-in-nueva-
ecija/#google_vignette
2. Business Channel Ph
https://ph.images.search.yahoo.com/search/
images;_ylt=AwrPrGwcDedm0hcwjaazRwx.;_ylu=Y29sbwNzZzMEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA
3BpdnM-?p=flood+control+structures+philippines&fr2=piv-
web&type=E210PH885G0&fr=mcafee#id=1&iurl=https%3A%2F%2Fptop.only.wip.la%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fbusinesschannel.ph
%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F12%2Ffc_completed_in_claveria.jpg&action=click
3. PAGASA
https://ph.images.search.yahoo.com/search/
images;_ylt=AwrKA2r0DedmFnoyb1azRwx.;_ylu=Y29sbwNzZzMEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA
3BpdnM-?p=early+warning+systems+in+flood+or+typhoon+in+philippines&fr2=piv-
web&type=E210PH885G0&fr=mcafee#id=4&iurl=https%3A%2F%2Fptop.only.wip.la%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fpbs.twimg.com%2Fmedia
%2FCq7oLfYUEAEEUG8.jpg&action=click
4. PhilStar
https://ph.images.search.yahoo.com/search/
images;_ylt=Awrx.RrRDudm6b4yCU.zRwx.;_ylu=Y29sbwNzZzMEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3
BpdnM-?p=watershed+management+in+the+philippines&fr2=piv-
web&type=E210PH885G0&fr=mcafee#id=18&iurl=https%3A%2F%2Fptop.only.wip.la%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fmedia.philstar.com
%2Fimages%2Farticles%2Fbus4-angat-dam-water-shed_2018-08-19_19-16-
50.jpg&action=click
5. Asian Development Bank
https://ph.images.search.yahoo.com/search/
images;_ylt=AwrKFtJ2D.dmPlEes7y1Rwx.;_ylu=c2VjA3NlYXJjaARzbGsDYnV0dG9u;_ylc=X1M
DMjExNDczNDAwNQRfcgMyBGZyA21jYWZlZQRmcjIDcDpzLHY6aSxtOnNiLXRvcARncHJpZA
NqSjhkTUY5S1ExMnNEOVo2MkxiSDdBBG5fcnNsdAMwBG5fc3VnZwMwBG9yaWdpbgNwaC5
pbWFnZXMuc2VhcmNoLnlhaG9vLmNvbQRwb3MDMARwcXN0cgMEcHFzdHJsAzAEcXN0cm
wDNjMEcXVlcnkDaW50ZWdyYXRlZCUyMHdhdGVyJTIwcmVzb3VyY2VzJTIwbWFuYWdlbWV
udCUyMGluJTIwdGhlJTIwcGhpbGlwcGluZXMlMjBwaG90b3MEdF9zdG1wAzE3MjY0MTg4OTg
-?p=integrated+water+resources+management+in+the+philippines+photos&fr=mcafee&fr2=p
%3As%2Cv%3Ai%2Cm%3Asb-top&ei=UTF-8&x=wrt&type=E210PH885G0#id=16&iurl=https
%3A%2F%2Fwww.adb.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fcontent-media%2F174151-water-
evaluation.jpeg&action=click

2.2 AUSTRALIA

Water as an important part of our everyday life

Water plays an important role on a daily basis, such as sustaining industries like marine
industry, supporting irrigation, and providing drinking water. Ensuring water quality is beneficial
for both the environment and water preservation. Different government organizations work with
each other to ensure water quality, security of waterways, water conservation and regulation of
the water supply. Water is one of the most important resources in Australia, as it provides
support for various ecological systems like surface and groundwater, marine environments and
catchments. An efficient water system produces high quality of water and a stronger
environment to live in. Ensuring high water quality is important in maintaining accessible safe
drinking water,sustaining water-dependent industries, and preserving natural habitats. However,
it is difficult to manage water supply and quality because of different factors such as climate,
terrain, and land use. In Australia, water quality is prioritized by state, territory, and local
governments with the use of different methods, rules, and legislation, excluding Commonwealth
marine waters.

Water scarcity as one of Australia's main problem

National water use, by irrigated industry, 2006 to 2017

Australia still deals with water scarcity up to now as a result of its

consistent dry and unpredictable climate, intensified by climate
change. The main uses for which water is abstracted in Australia are
agricultural (70%), urban (20%) and industrial (10%) purposes It is
equally crucial for various sectors, homes, and is growing in
significance for environmental preservation initiatives. The Water
Justice Hub discovered in their study that 395 small communities have encountered poor
drinking water quality in at least one case. A new study emphasizes that ensuring all
Australians have dependable access to clean drinking water may come with a price tag of
around $1.3 billion. Communities reported that lack of consistent access to safe water causes
health and economic challenges

Using of desalination plants as a water source

The NWQMS offers protection in ensuring water quality is accessible nationwide. They are
the ones in charge of making sure that the entire nation has access to a reliable and beneficial
water supply. Australia continuously faces a water scarcity problem because of its arid climate
and the impacts of climate change. Advanced water markets were also established by the
country to effectively allocate resources, Two major cities like Perth and Sydney have adapted
using desalination plants as source of extra water in times of drought. For instance, Perth has
experienced decreased precipitation annually and it is now dependent heavily on groundwater
and water recycling to fulfill its needs.

Introduction of water market to effectively allocate resources

Annual volume of water trade in the southern MDB, 1983–84 to

2016–17

National allocation trade, by water system 2016–17

In Australia, water is more essential for survival than in any other

part of the world, particularly because it is the driest continent where
people live because it is second to Antarctica which is a continent
that is non habitable. Australia created sophisticated water markets
that allow individuals to trade water entitlements. These markets expedite the effective
allocation of scarce water resources, adjusting to changes in the supply and demand of water all
throughout the country. In the past 30 years, giving the market substantial power in regulating
water. This produces an outcome of significant gains for some entrepreneurs, with
approximately 8,000 gigaliters of water being traded annually, amounting to 4 billion Australian
Dollar in value. This water resource comes from an extensive system of 77,000 km (48,000
miles) of connecting rivers and streams, most of it comes from the Murray-Darling Basin in
Southeastern Australia, known for its large river network. Australia, having an average yearly
precipitation of just 470mm through different locations, gets less rainfall than any continent other
than Antarctica, and this rainfall is not evenly distributed. Over the past century, Australia
increased its temperature by one degree and it is now experiencing reduced rainfall as an effect
of climate change. Despite Australia's large size, the majority of its population lives in urban
areas.

Incorporating of innovations in water recycling

Since the 1970s, lessened rainfall in Western Australia has caused a 91% cutoff in runoff into
Perth's reservoirs, leading to increased reliance on groundwater in the region. As a solution,
Perth is refilling its aquifers by adding 10% of recycled wastewater to shallow aquifers, where
the water is naturally treated and stored for future use. This method is called Indirect Potable
Reuse which is essential for ensuring urban water availability. Australia is improving its water
efficiency as well. Innovative products are now being equipped with ratings for water efficiency,
and households are embracing water-saving technologies such as flow-regulating showerheads
and dishwashers that consume only 12 liters per use, a mere 10% of conventional methods.
More than 25% of households in Australia gather and save rainwater, adding approximately 177
billion liters to the country's home water source. Together with gray water recycling systems in
sinks and showers, these initiatives alleviate the strain on city water supplies for activities like
flushing toilets and gardening. Federal funding has additionally backed enhancements in
farming, including effective drip irrigation, lining water channels to decrease water wastage, and
transitioning to less water-dependent crops, leading to a 33% decrease in water consumption
while preserving sustainability in five states.

Australia's flood control measures

Australia's diverse terrains and unpredictable weather patterns often lead to regular and severe
flooding, despite having sophisticated water management systems in place. Australia's physical
features, such as its expansive rivers and semi-arid regions, leave it prone to various forms of
flooding, such as sudden floods and river floods triggered by intense precipitation. Cyclones can
worsen flooding in the northern areas. Australia effectively deals with floods by preserving
natural floodplains, which can absorb additional water and lessen the impact further
downstream. Preserving and repairing these floodplains is important for establishing a
sustainable flood control system. Australia uses floodways and levees as structural methods to
protect communities and land from floods by redirecting excess water and creating barriers to
prevent flooding in designated areas. These measures assist in managing flood effects and
protecting property and individuals. Additionally, it is essential for resilience to construct flood-
resistant infrastructure by utilizing more resilient materials and creating buildings capable of
withstanding floods. Flood management is connected to water management, which examines
the complete water cycle from catchment to end users. This comprehensive method helps
maintain a balance between flood prevention, water supply, and environmental sustainability.
Despite all of this, Australia continues to face issues such as urban expansion, protecting
natural floodplains, and managing the uncertain impacts of climate change. The focal point of
Australia's flood management is on using physical structures like levees, dams, retarding
basins, flood bypasses, river channel modifications, and floodgates to protect urban areas and
farmland from flooding. Projects such as the Odra-Vistula Flood Management Project and the
Maanshan Cihu River Basin Improvement demonstrate creative methods for flood control. The
project for managing floods in the Odra-Vistula region and the improvement of the Ma’anshan
Cihu River Basin. The Odra-Vistula project integrates both gray and green infrastructure in its
design.

Flood control system in Australia is composed of:

● Floodplain management
● Building modifications
● Water storage and retention dam management
● Waterway rehabilitation
● Physical flood barriers.

They successfully developed different modified flood control equipments and

infrastructures such as:
 ● Flood Barriers
● Flood protection structures for inner city buildings and basements
● Flood water diversions / redirection systems
● Permanent or portable flood control barriers
● Stormwater Harvesting Systems
● Tidal Control
● Backflow Prevention Solutions
● Levee Isolation Barriers
● Stormwater Isolation

Consistent adaptation of global changes

Australia aims to eliminate the chances of flooding by securing natural floodplains, building
floodways and levees, improving infrastructure resilience, and implementing integrated water
management methods. In spite of all of these attempts, we can still not guarantee that all of it
will still work in the future, particularly concerning urban growth and climate change. While
improving its flood management techniques, Australia needs to remain flexible in response to
changing climates in order to protect its people and unique ecosystems.

REFERENCES

1. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/partner-content-how-australia-
is-securing-its-water-future

2. https://www.waterquality.gov.au/introduction#:~:text=In%20Australia%2C%20water
%20quality%20is,such%20as%20Commonwealth%20marine%20waters.

3. https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/research-topics/water#:~:text=Water%20scarcity
%20is%20a%20persistent,the%20emergence%20of%20climate%20change.

4. https://www.preventionweb.net/news/nature-based-flood-mitigation-strategies-australia

5. https://soe.dcceew.gov.au/inland-water/pressures/population#:~:text=The%20main
%20uses%20for%20which,%25)

6. https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/products/insights/snapshot-of-australian-water-
markets#water-market-prices-are-driven-by-supply-and-demand