Baguio City orders crackdown on unsafe water suppliers

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The city government here will begin shutting down purified water refilling stations and commercial deep wells whose operators fail water quality tests for a second time as part of stricter measures to ensure the safety of the city’s drinking water.

In a statement posted by the Baguio City Public Information Office on Saturday, July 11, the city said the policy would take effect on July 20, following a directive issued by Mayor Benjamin Magalong during the City Water Resources Board and City Water Governance Council meeting on July 9.

Magalong called on operators of purified water refilling stations, commercial water sources, and water delivery services to strictly comply with sanitation and health standards to protect consumers from waterborne diseases.

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“We should maintain cleanliness in our facilities, observe proper sanitation practices, and strictly follow all operational protocols required by health authorities. Please be reminded that providing safe and clean drinking water is a responsibility that directly affects public health, and public health must take priority over business interests,” the mayor said in the statement.

Engineer Albert Pay-an, head of the Environmental Health and Sanitation Division of the City Health Services Office, said regular inspections and water quality testing would continue, also covering food establishments that serve drinking water and ice.

He urged operators to immediately correct deficiencies identified during inspections to avoid penalties, including the closure of their establishments.

Based on the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water 2017 (PNSDW 2017), purified water refilling stations are required to undergo monthly bacteriological testing and physical and chemical testing every six months.

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Commercial deep well operators must submit monthly bacteriological test results and annual physical and chemical test results, and water delivery trucks should undergo bacteriological testing quarterly and physical and chemical testing yearly.

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According to Pay-an, establishments that fail a water quality test for the first time will receive a sanitary order directing them to cease operations and carry out maintenance and sanitation measures. They can only resume operations after passing a subsequent water quality test.

Under the Sanitation Code of Baguio City, failure to meet water quality standards may result in a P5,000 fine, in addition to possible closure for repeat violations.

The city government is also cracking down on illegal operators.

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According to the statement, the Permits and Licensing Division has scheduled the closure of nine water refilling stations found operating without business permits in the coming days. — Maureen Matayew (Contributor) /atm