Tap water safe to drink

[j_avonni]

Just as clean as bottled water, say experts
By Kristine L. Alave
Inquirer
Last updated 01:19am (Mla time) 03/31/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- Save yourself the expense. Drink tap water.

Water quality experts yesterday urged Metro Manila residents to use water from their faucets for drinking as it is as safe as commercially bottled water.

The Metro Manila Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Committee said their December 2006 and January-February 2007 data showed that, “in general, tap water is clean and safe.”

Representatives of the Department of Health, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), and water companies said the findings should “restore people’s trust in the quality of tap water in Metro Manila and eventually lessen people’s over-reliance on bottled water.”

Eduardo Santos, chief of the MWSS-Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO), said bottled water, which had become a “status symbol” for many Filipinos, was unnecessary as tap water was safe and potable. “We drink water from the faucet,” he added.

Santos said tests made in the past 12 months showed that the metropolis’ water was free of bacteria that caused water-borne diseases like cholera, typhoid, and dysentery.

He noted that there had been no water-borne disease outbreaks in Metro Manila since early 2005, when Pasay City registered cholera cases.

Santos also assured Metro Manila residents there was plenty of water this dry season.

He said reservoirs in Angat and Ipo Dams were well above critical levels. “We have an adequate supply,” he said.

The water quality committee said water companies servicing the metropolis satisfactorily met the bacteriological level set by the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water (PNSDW).

The PNSDW requires that coliform, a type of bacteria found in water, must not be detectable in any 100 milligram sample.

If samples from large quantities are examined, it must not be present in 95 percent of samples taken.

Data from the committee said all the required 734 samples from the East Zone, which is serviced by the Ayala-owned Manila Water Company Inc., complied with the standard as all were found potable.

The East Zone is composed of parts of the cities of Manila, Makati, and Quezon; and Mandaluyong City, Pasig City, San Juan, Marikina City, Pateros, and Taguig City.

In the West Zone, which is supplied by the Lopez-owned Maynilad Water Services Inc., it was found that of the total 688 samples, about three were found to be not potable, representing a compliance rate of 99.56 percent.

The West Zone consists of parts of the cities of Manila, Makati and Quezon; Caloocan City, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, Parañaque, and Pasay City.

Another random testing by the MWSS-RO showed bacteriological level compliance in December 2006 and January 2007 was at 100 percent. In February, it was 98.4 percent, well above the required 95 percent.

Officials said the problem regarding samples that did not pass bacteriological tests was solved by cleaning and changing service pipes.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquire...ticle_id=58033

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We drink FILTERED tap water at home.

[bad driver]

been drinking tap water for years now tsalap. hehe.

glad to have confirmed it's safety tho.

[CaRGirL]

ayoko na. after na nagLBM lahat ng tao sa bahay kasi nasira water filter namin. hindi na. nagpapadeliver na kami ng mineral water.

[boybi]

CG, mineral water? or purified water? A lot of people kasi are confused with mineral/distilled/purified water. The water from those water refilling stations are just filtered purified water, not mineral water.

[CaRGirL]

CG, mineral water? or purified water? A lot of people kasi are confused with mineral/distilled/purified water. The water from those water refilling stations are just filtered purified water, not mineral water.

Wilkins?! basta mga ganun, yung naka 5-gallon bottle

[boybi]

Wilkins is distilled water. Mahal nyan a, I think nasa P125 yata per 5-gallons?