HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPE-VINE: OUR NEW ABNORMAL

Because of its scarcity, safe water is one of the world’s most precious commodities today. Climate change and global warming are just some  of the factors that have brought about this shortage, one that is acutely felt as water use continues to increase globally. This year, the Philippines is already feeling this scarcity – and it’s easy to forget the lessons of 2019, when we did experience a water shortage, and water conservation was an important facet of getting through the summer months that year. As part of every community where their malls stand, SM Supermalls is cognizant of the important role it can play in advocating water conservation, championing water recycling, and being part of the solution. It’s something that SM Supermalls, with sustainability at the core of its operations, has prioritized for years now. “We all know that fresh water is a finite resource, so it is important that we try our best to conserve it. This is why SM has been adhering to a circular framework when it comes to our resource consumption, including the way we use water in our malls,” says Engr. Liza B. Silerio, vice president for SM Supermalls Corporate Compliance Group and SM Cares program director for Environment. *Steven Tan, SM Supermalls president & CEO.*
To promote this circularity and improve water efficiency, several SM Malls will have facilities that reduce its consumption of fresh water. Among these are the rainwater catchment basins that are found in 21 SM malls, and the sewage treatment plants. These allow water to be reused and/or recycled, ensuring there is enough water for the malls, and for the nearby communities. To help better appreciate what is going on at SM Supermalls, and how they annually prepare for the El Niño months, SM Supermalls President and CEO Steven Tan, explained: “For decades, we have been recycling our water for majority of the uses in our malls, four million cubic meters a year – or to give a sense of scale, about 1,600 Olympic-sized pools each year. We use this recycled water for cooling our aircons, for cleaning and watering our plants, for cleaning external areas of our malls and our parking structures, and this extends to all our tenants. We harvest the water they use, and have technologies in place to recycle this.” “We use waterless urinals, and we have STPs on all our malls as well as sensor-activated faucets. This really has been a standard feature in all our malls because Mr. Hans Sy is a sustainability champion; and as an engineer, he has always reminded us to ensure we are prepared for eventual shortages such as these.” *The water filtration system at SM City Baguio.*
Through these basins and treatment facilities, SM Supermalls prove they are very conscious of their own use of water, and lessen the dependence on the LGU’s water tables, so that there is more water for the community’s use. The malls also constantly push via their public information drive, reminding mall-goers of the need to recycle and conserve. Leading by example is the best way to achieve this. Just last month, SM City Baguio launched new technology that treats the collected rainwater, and converts this into potable water that the tenants and the mall can use for cooking and for cleaning. It’s estimated that the Baguio mall can save up to 51,000 cubic meters of water a year from this development – and to put this in layman’s terms, it’s equivalent to 20 swimming pools. *SM Supermalls SVP for Marketing Jonjon San Agustin, SM Supermalls VP for Corporate Compliance Engr. Liza Silerio, and Baguio City Mayor Benjie Magalong visit the SM City Baguio water filtration system.* As Engr. Silerio emphasizes: “Aside from minimizing our impact on common water resources, recycling water through these sewage treatment plants allows our malls to save big on water costs. Now, imagine if we all did it. I think we can leave a significant positive impact on our country’s source of fresh water.” SM Prime is committed to supporting the United Nations in achieving its Sustainable Development Goals, of which SDG #6 is Clean Water and Sanitation. Availability and the sustainable management of water and sanitation are two things every Filipino should be entitled to; and SM takes seriously the role it can play in providing that. Finding multiple ways to be of service to the community is part of the SM DNA – in partnership with the Manila Observatory, SM provides energy, climate and weather data through 49 automated weather stations that are situated on top of SM malls across the country.