FOLLOWING complaints from the public on the service of a local water utility, the local government of San Simon conducted Tuesday, March 2, water quality testing in residential areas in the town.

Mayor Abundio Punsalan Jr. led the onsite sampling and testing of surface water serviced by San Simon Waterworks in Barangays Sta. Monica and San Pedro.

San Simon Waterworks, operated by Crystal Liquid Philippines Inc. (CLPI), is the existing and lone water concessionaire in the town.

During the onsite testing, it was seen that the pressure of surface water is at zero level, far from the minimum 16psi reportedly agreed upon by San Simon Waterworks and the local government in the contract.

"This is a clear violation of the 35-year contract they signed with the local government. Under the contract, the pressure must be at least 16psi, and this is way below. In fact, there is no pressure meaning they have no service at all," he said.

The local government also commissioned a third-party testing body, ERL Environmental Corporation, to check on the presence of chlorine and level of acidity of the service water.

ERL Environmental Corporation Field Sampler Adler Gatbonton said chlorine testing showed that there is no presence of chlorine in the running water in the residential area in Sta. Monica, while 0.2 percent chlorine level was detected in San Pedro village.

"If there is no or less chlorine, development of coliform bacteria, which may cause diarrhea, is 00⁰bp more probable," Gatbonton said.

The acidity level of the water, however, is at 7.3, which is between the 6.5 to 8.5 normal level, Gatbonton added.

Based on the perceived violations, Punsalan said the local government is now bound to review the contract with San Simon Waterworks to confirm if it remains valid and binding.

"We already have a technical working group to study this matter. We cannot allow our concessionaire to take advantage of Simonians who are their clients through this kind of service they are providing now," he said.

Punsalan confirmed that the local government is open in accepting applications from other water concessionaires who can promise to provide better quality of service.

"Water is a basic necessity and if it is not available, it is a big problem to the community. That is what we are trying to address here. We cannot let a certain utility provider monopolize the service of water, more so if they are not living up to what they promised," he said.