Securing Tomorrow's Supply: How SM City Baguio Turns Rain into a Life-Saving Resource

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In the misty highlands of Baguio City, Philippines, a critical challenge looms: water security. Despite frequent rainfall, the city faces limited water resources. Water supply from the local district is often rationed, forcing some neighborhoods to receive water only twice a week and rely on private deliveries when their tanks run dry.

Against this backdrop of urban water scarcity, SM City Baguio is demonstrating how innovation and sustainability can secure the future.

The Rainwater Revolution

SM City Baguio has pioneered a sophisticated rainwater treatment facility that is literally turning rain into resource. This system is a powerful answer to the city's water struggles, showcasing a new benchmark for sustainability in commercial developments.

From Rain to Potable Water: The facility captures, treats, and stores rainwater to potable standards. This means the collected rainwater is converted into safe drinking water.

Massive Production Capacity: The system produces up to 150 cubic meters of safe drinking water per day. Furthermore, it has the capacity to double production to an impressive 300 cubic meters daily.

Reducing Strain on Local Utilities: By generating its own potable water, the mall significantly reduces its reliance on local water utilities. This responsible use ensures the mall can continue serving millions of visitors while easing the strain on the communal water supply.

“We’ve always valued innovation and creativity in the malls – we take it a step further now to where it truly matters. SM City Baguio’s rainwater treatment facility shows how the right innovation can secure tomorrow’s water,” said SM Supermalls President Steven Tan.

This innovative system doesn't just benefit the mall; it contributes directly to SM Prime’s Water for Tomorrow campaign, demonstrating responsible and efficient water use.

Championing Water for Tomorrow

SM City Baguio’s initiative is a cornerstone of the broader SM Green Movement and the Water for Tomorrow campaign. This campaign advocates for crucial pillars of water resilience: efficiency, innovation, resilience, and awareness.

SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime), one of Southeast Asia's largest integrated property developers, champions sustainability through the SM Green Movement by focusing on:

Waste management.

Water stewardship.

Energy efficiency.

The commitment to water stewardship is evident across SM Prime's operations. Beyond Baguio, the company's water initiatives include advanced treatment facilities, recycling systems, and community engagement programs.

The results are substantial: in 2024, SM Prime recorded a 26.23% increase in recycled water volume, rising from 4.42 million cubic meters in 2023 to 5.59 million cubic meters.

The Water for Tomorrow campaign is a powerful demonstration of how everyday innovation can ensure a sustainable tomorrow—not just for businesses, but for communities and the planet itself. The SM Green Movement empowers everyone to participate in simple acts that create shared prosperity for generations to come.

SM City Baguio’s facility is more than just a functional system; it’s a living model of how a major commercial development can turn a natural challenge into a sustainable solution, harnessing the abundance of rain to address the scarcity of the city's water supply.

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