QuestionsQuestions (DOH)
It supplements the 24 November 1995 rules and covers, among others: (1) development of drinking water supply systems; (2) establishment and operation of retail water systems (RWS)/refilling stations; (3) source and product water quality monitoring; (4) drinking water in vending machines/dispensers and product containers; (5) household/commercial water purification equipment; and (6) bulk water handling, storage and transportation.
An air gap is a clear vertical space through the free atmosphere between the opening of a pipe/faucet conveying water or waste and the flood level rim of the receptacle. It prevents cross-connection and reverse flow of wastewater into the potable water supply.
Cross-connection is any arrangement (physical or otherwise) between a potable water system and a connection/tank/equipment/device through which non-potable, used, unclean, polluted or contaminated water may enter the potable system. It is regulated to prevent contamination of drinking water.
For development: (1) Drinking Water Site Clearance (prerequisite for sanitary clearance); (2) Initial Permit/“Notice to Proceed” from the Regional Health Director—no construction/installation/operation without it; and (3) Operational Permit—no operation for drinking purposes without it.
A copy of the Drinking Water Site Clearance; engineering report/feasibility study (including assessment of the water source, system capacity and pressure to meet demand); and plans/specifications and other required documents signed and sealed by a licensed sanitary engineer.
(a) Report of inspection of completed construction works and complete disinfection by the local health office; (b) report of inspection verifying completeness and disinfection by the regional/provincial sanitary engineer; and (c) results of water sampling and testing by a DOH-accredited water analysis laboratory.
Examples include: errors in plans/specifications; incorrect/inaccurate application data; non-compliance with permit conditions; failure to do prescribed repair rendering water unsafe; failure to disinfect after disruption/repair/modification; unauthorized changes/modifications/alterations of approved plans/type of construction; and other non-compliances discovered during operation.
Non-compliance with maximum contaminant levels in the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water; LDWQMC did not evaluate/recommend the analysis; laboratory is not DOH-accredited; false/misleading results; and earlier revocation/suspension of the Operational Permit.
Stop operation of the hazardous part of the distribution system; immediately inform the Department and local health office; local health office informs authorities to convene LDWQMC and publicize status/precautions and limited usage; refrain from unauthorized public announcements; assume printing/media expenses; institute immediate repair; provide drinking water to affected consumers; complete disinfection and collect samples; wait for clearance/re-issuance of CPDW before full operations; and submit contingency plans.
City/municipal health offices monitor operation and water quality through LDWQMC. Water suppliers must provide and report items such as aquifer extent data, improvements/constructions, watershed/recharge area surveys updated every three years, plans for special monitoring of significant contaminants, and regular monitoring results.
It must secure a Sanitary Permit from the city/municipal health office. No commercial operation without the sanitary permit.
The IRR requires the Operational Permit and Certificate of Potability for RWS/refilling station where raw water is sourced from private water. For public water source, it requires the Certificate of Potability of Drinking Water for the RWS/refilling station, but also requires validation water samples to confirm no cross-connection in main lines and/or seepage from the water main.
It requires a new sanitary permit; violation is a ground for immediate revocation or suspension of the existing sanitary permit.
It must be located in areas/zones designated by law or ordinance; at least 25 meters away from direct sources of pollution; not subject to flooding (or designed so the purification process will not be contaminated by floodwater); and must have source water and power available.
The water supply going to purification machines must be protected from backflow and backpressure from in-machine water; boosters/pumps are prohibited from direct connection to main water lines when source is from public supply; air gap requirements and backflow prevention devices must meet National Plumbing Code standards; devices/assemblies must be approved, tested, maintained, and inspected; and prohibited connections/cross-connections are barred unless proper backflow prevention exists for the potential hazard.
The sanitary survey evaluates factors like distance to contamination sources (for wells), slope/topography, depth of water table, nature of soil/porous strata, and direction of run-off (for groundwater); and for fresh surface water supply, watershed/drainage characteristics, slope areas (>3%), average annual rainfall, estimated annual runoff, drainage and basin perimeter, and related hydrological/technical data.
Containers/caps must be food-grade, non-toxic/non-corrosive; customers’ containers must be washed with approved source water prior to sanitizing; sanitizing solutions/process must be DOH-approved (including chlorine-based chemical guidance per Annex); sanitization must not leave sanitizer residual in product water; and treated containers must have adequate draining.
Holding time must not exceed 24 hours. Refilling water in containers awaiting delivery is stored at cool room temperature (26°C–28°C) with relative humidity of 60%, in a dry environment away from chemicals/solvents and preferably in a separate storage room; containers are stored with space (slated platform about 20 cm above floor) to allow cleaning/inspection and air circulation.