The Department of Health (DOH) today presented the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water (PNSDW) of 2017 to various stakeholders. The said policy is embodied in the DOH Administrative Order No. 10 series of 2017, which prescribes the standards and procedures on drinking-water quality aiming to protect the public and consumer’s health.
The PNSDW of 2017 is applicable to all drinking-water service providers including government and private developers and operators, bulk water suppliers, water refilling station operators, water vending machine operators, and ice manufacturers. It shall also be applied to all food establishments, residential, commercial, industrial and institutional buildings that use/supply/serve drinking water; water testing laboratories; health and sanitation authorities; the general public and all others who are involved in determining the safety of public’s drinking-water.
The general guidelines conform to set standards for drinking-water quality, water sampling and evaluation of results upon examination. Furthermore, these standards are consistent with the improved framework for drinking-water safety promoted by WHO comprised of three key components namely: health-based targets established by the authority; safely managed water systems (application of water safety plan); and, a system of independent surveillance.
To ensure the safety of drinking water, there are seven guidelines that must be followed. These include: measuring the quality; water sampling and examination; other modes of distribution of drinking-water; evaluation of results; classification of quality parameters; quality assurance/quality control for water laboratories; and water safety plan (WSP) and quality surveillance.
Various government and non-government agencies partnered to implement this policy where each has a defined role to play in this undertaking, consisting of DOH, local government units, water laboratory, and the drinking-water service provider and operator of establishment or building.
“Defining the standards and procedures to determine the safety of drinking water, a basic necessity in life, is certainly crucial. Thus, the DOH is proud to present this document which outlines the National Standards for Drinking Water of 2017. Truly, I must say that water is life so we have to protect, conserve and put so much importance in it in the course of our everyday living,” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III declared.
The Secretary further stated that after ten years, and for the second time around as DOH Chief, he felt deeply honored to have been part of the official launchings of both the PNSDW of 2007 and 2017.
The DOH, with technical and financial support from WHO, spearheaded the updating of PNSDW. (DOH)
