DOH: Metro Manila water safe from E. coli bacteria

Metro Manila water is generally safe from the potentially life-threatening Escherichia coli or E. coli bacteria, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday after water from eight Pampanga barangays tested E. coli-positive. Dr. Eduardo Janairo, regional director of the DOH Center for Health Development-Metro Manila (CHD-MM), said the water supplied by Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Co. Inc. undergoes stringent potability tests. Janairo cited the latest Metro Manila Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Committee findings which certified that supplies from the region’s 1,228 water sampling points are negative of E. coli and are of sanitary quality. Still, certain factors continue to place water in individual households at risk, the Health official noted. “You may never know when wastewaters are seeping through your service lines," Janairo said. “If the water coming out of your faucet is tested positive of the bacteria, you must immediately check your pipe connections at home," he added. The DOH issued these reminders days after the Philippine Medical Association reported that water supplies in at least eight Pampanga barangays were contaminated with E. coli. Health officials in these barangays are expecting higher incidences of water-borne diseases, GMA News TV’s “State of the Nation" newscast reported Monday.
Like the DOH, experts also vouch for the potability of tap water in Metro Manila and surrounding areas, said a GMA News Online special report. The report explained that Maynilad and Manila Water employ a number of safety standards that even exceed those required by the government. Despite this, more and more Metro Manila residents continue to doubt the quality of Maynilad and Manila Water supplies. The two water concessionaires and other experts, however, blame households and other establishments themselves for keeping unsanitary pipelines and other facilities that contaminate their water. — VS, GMA News