SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6.4 - Water reuse
To advance circular resource management and reduce total environmental impact, Leyte Normal University (LNU) actively enforces institutional policies and operational practices that promote and mandate the reuse and recycling of water.
Through wastewater treatment mechanisms, graywater recycling systems, and rainwater harvesting initiatives, our institution integrates sustainable water reclamation across landscape irrigation, facility maintenance, and campus operations. By embedding responsible water stewardship into daily campus workflows, we minimize reliance on freshwater supplies and lead by example in ecological conservation.
6.4.1 - Water reuse policy
LNU Water Reuse Policy
Leyte Normal University (LNU) has established a comprehensive water reuse policy demonstrating its commitment to sustainability and alignment with Philippine national policies, particularly Republic Act No. 9275 (The Philippine Clean Water Act).
This initiative underscores the university’s dedication to responsible water management, aiming to conserve precious resources and contribute directly to the country’s environmental protection goals.
The university’s commitment to water reuse and recycling is formally established within its Integrated Environmental and Resilience Policy (IEMRP). These directives are directly emphasized on the following initiatives, reflecting on the university’s commitments to limit water wastage and maximize availability of existing resources.
Water Reuse and Recyling Efforts
Leyte Normal University’s commitment to water reuse and recycling is formally
established within its Integrated Environmental Management and Resilience Policy (LNU IEMRP). This policy provides a clear framework for sustainable resource management, specifically outlined in Chapter 2, Section 2.1., Paragraph 3, which mandates the university to: “Institutionalize rainwater harvesting, flood drainage, and tree-planting programs to mitigate flooding and heat stress.”
In direct alignment with this directive, the university has implemented practical water reuse systems. A prime example is the rainwater catchment tank at the ORC Quadrangle.
Strategically placed in a large open area, the basin is engineered to capture significant volumes of surface runoff during rain events. This collected water undergoes an initial filtration process to remove debris, sediment, and other particulates. After filtration, the water is channeled into a large underground reservoir and auxiliary storage tanks for secure holding.
This stored, non-potable water is then purposefully redistributed through a dedicated plumbing system to nearby comfort rooms, where it is used for flushing toilets and general cleaning. This system directly fulfills the IEMRP directive by creating a sustainable, cyclical water source, which significantly reduces the university’s reliance on treated potable water for non-essential uses. Simultaneously, by capturing and detaining large amounts of rainwater at its source, the basin plays a vital role in mitigating localized flooding at the quadrangle, easing the strain on campus drainage systems during heavy downpours.
Beyond large-scale rainwater harvesting, the university’s water conservation policy extends to the design of its aesthetic and operational features, such as campus fountains and fish ponds.
These installations are not wasteful “single-pass” systems that continuously draw fresh water. Instead, they are engineered as self-contained, closed-loop systems. This design means that a fixed volume of water is held in a basin or pond and is continuously recirculated by an electric pump. The pump pushes the water through the fountainhead or, in the case of fish ponds, through a filtration and aeration system before it falls back into the basin to be reused.
The only water loss from this system is minimal, occurring naturally through evaporation or minor splash. By recirculating the water, the university ensures these features can operate and enhance the campus environment with negligible impact on the university’s daily water consumption, perfectly aligning with the IEMRP’s goal of responsible resource management.
6.4.2 - Water reuse measurement
To measure the impact of its reuse initiatives, the university’s Physical Plants and Facilities Office conducts an annual Water Monitoring and Evaluation Report. This report assesses the effectiveness of its water recycling and conservation programs.
The 2024 water monitoring report demonstrated significant results as the university recorded total water savings of approximately 13.5% or equivalent to around 890 gallons of water.
Table 1. Water Monitoring and Evaluation Report (2024)
| Program Area | Q1 Results | Q2 Results | Q3 Results | Q4 Results | Annual Summary | Assessment/Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Conservation |
14% saved |
16.8% saved |
15.6% saved |
18% saved |
Overall water
savings
improved by
16.2% |
Target: Improvement in water savings with consistent
quarterly growth. Performance: Quarterly savings
rose from 14% to 18%, averaging 16.2% improvement
for the year. Assessment: Passed/Follow Standard —
The consistent increase in water savings indicates that
conservation measures remain effective and align
with the new improvement targets for AY 2024-2025. |
|
Recycling |
1,044 gallons
recycled |
1,080 gallons
recycled |
1,056 gallons
recycled |
1,092 gallons
recycled |
Recycling
target
exceeded
with an
average of
1,068 gallons
per quarter |
Target: Maintain and exceed recycling targets with
sustained growth. Performance: Recycling volumes
increased steadily, surpassing the previous year’s
average by 20%. Assessment: Passed/Follow Standard
— Recycling efforts continue to improve with
consistent monitoring and community engagement. |
|
Efficient Usage |
12%
improved |
13.2%
improved |
12.6%
improved |
13.8%
improved |
76.7% of
water-
efficient
appliances
were
installed |
Target: Improve water efficiency through the
installation of high-efficiency devices. Performance:
Efficiency increased by approximately 20% from the
previous year, reflecting enhanced implementation of
conservation technologies. Assessment:
Passed/Follow Standard — The significant increase
shows that efficiency measures are continuously
prioritized and effectively managed. |
|
Treated Consumption |
98.4%
compliance |
99.4%
compliance |
98.9%
compliance |
99.5%
compliance |
Maintained
99.1%
compliance
with water
quality
standards |
Rating: Treated water use remains high and compliant
with environmental standards. Performance: Data
shows a 20% improvement in monitoring and usage
consistency. Assessment: Passed/Follow Standard —
Continued adherence to treated water standards
ensures safe and sustainable operations. |
|
Pollution Control |
4.8%
reduction in
contaminants |
6% reduction
in
contaminants |
5.4%
reduction in
contaminants |
Achieved
5.5% avg.
reduction in
contaminants
in
wastewater |
6% reduction
in
contaminants |
Rating: Passed/Follow Standard — Pollution control
measures improved by 20% from last year, showing
more effective waste monitoring and compliance with
environmental protocols. |
