Mandaue councilor proposes to regulate water stations

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City Councilor Emmarie “Lolypop”Ouano-Dizon has filed a proposed resolution which seeks to regulate the operation of waterworks systems and water refilling stations in the city.

Ouano-Dizon, in her proposal entitled â€œEstablishing the Mandaue Water Sanitation Standards of 2013,” approved yesterday on first reading, said she just wants to protect the city’s water supply especially the water for human consumption.

“The intention of the ordinance aims to eliminate all possible risk factors and dangers associated with water-borne related diseases. Water-borne related diseases are human tragedies, which by proper and immediate actions, can be avoided or if not mitigated,” Ouano-Dizon said.

She said seeing the operation of the “piso-piso water vending machine” prompted her to come up with the proposal.

Although she considers it a good source of income, the person operating it must not ignore the health aspect.

She said the sale of these “piso-piso vending machines” poses a high risk of contamination due to unsanitary locations and unhygienic handling of the machines.

 The water from the machine dispenses water through a small uncovered barrel and the small plastic bags used by customers to hold water are placed on the exposed part of the machine and there is no way to determine whether these are safe to use.

Ouano-Dizon’s ordinance states that the city shall strive to monitor and serve its constituents with affordable and safest drinking for its constituents.

The ordinance is created to ensure that water refilling stations and waterworks systems adhere to the same strict sanitation standards for the production of drinking water fit for human consumption.

The draft ordinance proposes for the creation of the water sanitation monitoring board to be headed by the mayor. Other members would include representatives from the city health office, barangays, and MCWD whose role is to monitor newly established waterworks systems and water refilling stations in the city.

An initial funding of P1million will be allotted for the creation of the board whose honorarium received by its members will be upon the discretion of the city mayor.

Among the  tasks and duties of the board is either to approve, disapprove, revoke or suspend any applications for a water permit or existing water permits.  

The board will also impose and collect reasonable fees and charges for the endorsement and processing of water rights application, water resource development, surveys and hydrologic investigations.

A Water Quality Monitoring council shall also be established in the barangays and no water works systems and water refilling stations shall be granted with business permits unless these can secure a water permit and Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) issued by the National Water Resources Board (NWRB).

These establishments will also be required to secure operational permits from the Department of Health (DOH), submit themselves to Physicochemical Test as certified by the Department of Health accredited laboratory, Bacteriological Test as certified by the Department of Health accredited laboratory, secure a Certificate of Potability issued by the Local Health Office where waterworks system is located, and in cases where waterworks systems or water refilling stations are owned and/or operated by barangays, then permit to operate will be secured from the Mandaue City Water Sanitation Monitoring Board.

In cases of the piso-piso water vending machines, the owner/proprietor must show proof that the water being used comes from water refilling stations that were able to comply and pass the bacteriological examination and physicochemical examination.   

And with regards to the water sanitation standards, all waterworks systems, water refilling stations and water vending machines must comply with the following standards for the waterworks system, its place of operation must at least be ½ kilometer away from residential houses and is cleared from garbage and trash that might affect the potability of water.

For water refilling stations, their places should be clean and sanitary and its personnel must have undergone proper training concerning water sanitation.

 The personnel must be in their proper uniforms.   (FREEMAN)