The study “Assessment of the Extent of Implementation of Standards and Procedures for Water Safety in the Philippines” by Hydrology for Environment, Life and Policy (HELP) Davao Network funded by the Department of Health through the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, gave poor results regarding the implementation of water safety plans which affects the quality of water in the Philippines.
This study was based on the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water (PNSDW) of 2007 which stressed the importance of a quality drinking water to human health. Water Safety Plan (WSP) was introduced to drinking water providers (DWPs) in order to aid them in monitoring the water quality they provide to the consumer. The study focused on assessing the implementation of this water systems and procedures.
The study selected 83 drinking providers from nine regions NCR, CAR, IV-A, V, VI, VII, X, XI and CARAGA) in the country. The proponents sampled, collected and analyzed water samples from the selected Level I, II and III providers, surveyed Level III drinking water providers and conducted focus group discussions and key informant interviews.
According to the results, 92% of the 83 DWPs have not developed WSP, while 95% have not implemented it. Forty-two percent of the 249 collected water samples was positive for fecal contamination with 8% that had 1 of 3 toxic heavy metals (cadmium, lead and arsenic) that exceeded the maximum allowable levels. Furthermore, 32% failed in terms in one or more of the acceptability parameters (color, turbidity, pH, total dissolved solids, iron, manganese and/or chloride). All 42 Level II samples collected from Sorsogon (Region V), Negros Occidental (Region VI), Negros Oriental (Region VII) and Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Norte (Region XIII) had fecal contamination.
Through this study, the proponents concluded that the level of development and implementation of WSPs among DWPs in the country is still very low. They recommended that a comprehensive program and different partnerships to assist DWPs in complying with PNSDW and WSP is needed.
The study was presented during one of the Oral Poster Session of Global Forum 2015 by Ms. Ludivina Porticos, Regional Health Research and Development Consortium XI-Human Resource and Development Committee (RHRDC XI-HRDC) Chair and University of Immaculate Concepcion Science Research Center Director last August 24-27, 2015 at PICC, Manila.
