ABOUT US

Formerly called the Hydrological Research and Training Unit (HRTU) of the University of San Carlos, the Water Resources Center (WRC) of USC has grown to become Cebu’s leading consulting center in hydrology, geo-hydrology and water resources planning, engineering and management.

WRC is one of the development units of USC. It started in 1975 when a Dutch priest and physicist, Fr. Herman van Engelen, SVD, grew concern over increasing reports of freshwater wells in the downtown Cebu area gradually becoming salty. This concern and passion for answers brought Engelen to brush for professional assistance locally and abroad. He touched base with one of the hydrology professors of the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. The events that followed were providential but not all were laid on a silver platter. Difficulties were not few, yet inspiring milestones were too outstanding to escape the minds of many. Engelen’s efforts pooled together the basic expertise and the workforce that was motivated by a common passion for knowledge to help improve the water supply situation of Cebu. A solid amount of baseline data was collected. Foundational analyses and interpretations were formulated. Indeed, the initial works led to some answers which, however, brought even more and more questions. The task was bigger than anyone could have imagined! So was the determination to seek for answers.

WRC aims to promote a better understanding of water and water resources for people and the environment to benefit adequately and sustainably. WRC endeavors to help provide the necessary support systems in order to effect sound decisions on water resources planning, development, and management.

CORE EXPERTISE

Hydrology and water resources embody the foremost expertise of WRC. Their relevant applications are wide and varied. On top of specialized capabilities in urban drainage, water management, data management, and institutional development-strengthening, the engineering applications in Water Supply have gained prominence in WRC’s professional transactions.

STRUCTURE WITHIN USC

An active relationship exists between WRC and USC Water Laboratory (Waterlab) and the Civil Engineering Department (CED) more than any other group in the University. Waterlab is a spin-off unit while CED has been an academic partner of WRC.

The Waterlab started as an activity within WRC’s water studies in the seventies. It was responsible for the bacteriological and chemical analyses of a solid number of water samples being collected periodically from various locations in Cebu. The capability developed and gradually became a trusted circle in many water resources investigations not only by WRC but also by government agencies and large industries in the region. In the early nineties, the Waterlab spun off into an independent analytical laboratory, primarily serving clients outside of the University. WRC and Waterlab maintain close collaboration as quantity and quality go together in all water assessment projects.

WRC’s work is by far civil engineering in nature. Civil engineering finds many applications in water-related disciplines. It is thus unsurprising to observe that one serves to reinforce both. The in-depth research pursuit of the CED, more often than not, makes use of WRC’s water data bank, practical insights and professional network. At the same time it allows WRC to become updated with new scholarly works which boost competence in the conduct of development and consultancy services that WRC is extending to its numerous clients. WRC’s actual experiences and field application of water-related principles are shared not only among its peer faculty members in the CED but further in the bachelor and masters level seeing that some WRC engineers serve as part-time teachers in the Department.