Daily TribuneSM City Baguio’s rainwater treatment facility cuts its reliance on local water utilities while ensuring the mall can continue serving millions of customers responsibly.
THE rainwater treatment facility of SM City Baguio is setting a new benchmark for sustainability in commercial developments aside from showing responsible and efficient water use.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF SM SUPERMALLS
Baguio City receives an average of 3,800 to 3,900 millimeters of rainfall each year, far above the national average of 2,350 mm, according to the Baguio Water District (BWD), the water supplier to the Summer Capital of the Philippines. July is the wettest month in the Pine City with rainfall exceeding 770 mm or even 1,000 mm.
Ironically, the BWD still has to ration water to local communities due to high demand. Thus, the utility agency encourages water conservation and rainwater use.
For SM City Baguio, the shopping mall does not source all its water requirements from the BWD. It has a rainwater treatment facility (RTF) that has been producing 150 cubic meters of potable water per day since July 2023, reducing its reliance on local water utilities while ensuring the mall can continue serving millions of customers responsibly.
The RTF provides 30 percent of the mall’s total monthly average requirement for clean water that is safe for consumption and food preparation.
“SM City Baguio’s rainwater treatment facility shows how the right innovation can secure tomorrow’s water,” said SM Supermalls president Steven Tan.
The statement is aligned with SM Prime’s Water for Tomorrow campaign for water resiliency and sustainability in all its property development across the country, including SM malls.
Water for Tomorrow is part of the SM Green Movement that also covers waste management, and energy efficiency.
The campaign is proving impactful. In 2024, SM Prime increased production of potable water from rainwater to 5.59 million cubic meters from 4.42 million cu. m. in 2023.
With its RTF, SM City Baguio has become a sustainability inspiration for businesses and communities, and a green model that contributes to a healthy planet.
