Strict enforcement of standards imposed
68 WATER REFILLING STATIONS GET PERMITS
AN official of the Dagupan City Health Office (CHO) has assured city residents that the operations of all the water refilling stations in Dagupan City are being strictly monitored by his office for their protection and welfare.
Marlon Quebral, chief of the CHO’s sanitation division, gave the assurance as he confirmed that 68 of the 83 water refilling stations in Dagupan were already issued the required sanitary permits.
The remaining 15 stations will be issued their sanitary permits once they comply fully with requirements that include bacteriological examinations to determine if the water they produce is safe or potable, and physico-chemical examination of their raw water and product water.
He told the KBP Forum on Thursday that to ensure further that water being sold by local water refilling station is safe, the regional sanitary inspector of the Department of Health (DOH) is currently in Dagupan to inspect the refilling stations.
The inspection of the regional sanitary inspector requires review of the plans and specifications of a water refilling station and to determine consistency of compliance with standards set by the supplementary Internal Rules and Regulation (IRR) of Presidential Decree No. 856 (Philippine Sanitation Code).
If they meet the required standards, the DOH regional office will issue their respective licenses, however, if the water refilling station fails, it will be ordered closed promptly.
Quebral said most of the local refilling stations are sourcing their raw water from the Dagupan City Water District (DCWD) and only a few from their own deep wells and all are required to go through filtration process inside the station’s facility to remove the bacteria, as well as minerals and chlorine in the water.
“It is a misnomer, therefore. to call this as mineral water since all the minerals were already removed by filtration,” Quebral said, adding that the apt description for the products out of refilling stations is “thirsty water”.
A standard is set as well for crew manning refilling stations that includes examination of sputum and stool examinations every six months, to be visibly clean from head to foot (particularly nails), wear facemask or mouth guard, hairnet, and apron.
Old containers are ordered replaced and deliveries of containers must be covered with plastic. (Leonardo Micua)
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