Health office: Tap water in metro safe for drinking

LONG seen as unsafe for public consumption, tap water is now being promoted as drinking water by the Department of Health (DOH)–National Capital Region (NCR).

DOH-NCR Director Dr. Eduardo Janairo said they are confident to announce that the water supply coming from the two concessionaires – Maynilad Water Services Inc. (MWSI) for West Manila and Manila Water Company Inc. (MWCI) for East Manila - are providing quality and sanitary safe potable water.

“Metro Manila residents should go back to basics and make use of tap water for their daily use,” said Janairo.

The assurance came after the monthly examination conducted by the Metro Manila Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Committee (MMDWQMC), which ensures safety to drink tap water for NCR residents.

Janairo noted how tap water is even beneficial to one’s health because it contains essential minerals that the body needs.

These include magnesium, which maintains the immune system and helps lower blood pressure; iron, which helps in the circulation of blood for a better delivery of oxygen throughout the body; and sulphate, which is used by the body as a cleansing and detoxifying agent in building a stronger skeletal system and strengthening of our teeth.

The official said using tap water also assures that the drinking water is safe and non-toxic since it is not stored in a plastic container.

Janairo also said that they recently found out that not all of the more than 1,000 water refilling stations in the region are able to meet the standards set by the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water (PNSDW) for microbiological and physico-chemical examinations.

Based on their data, out of the 1,284 Water Refilling Stations monitored in Metro Manila for the month of August, only 1,242 passed the potability standards set by the PNSDW.

“Consumers are advised to look for the monthly microbiological quality results posted in their ‘suki’ or ‘selected’ refilling stations to ensure that the water they buy is safe and potable,” said Janairo. (HDT/Sunnex)