May 17, 2006 · Posted in: Governance
Water at Southville relocation site
unsafe for drinking — Ateneo study
TO add to the woes of railway dwellers affected by the North Rail-South Rail Linkage Project, drinking water at the Southville relocation site in Cabuyao, Laguna has been found to be unsafe, according to a study of the Ateneo de Manila University.
Upon the request of relocatees, the Urban Poor Associates (UPA), an NGO concerned with urban poor issues, asked the university’s biology department to conduct a bacteriological analysis of water samples collected from Block 65, Lot 57 in Southville. Both presumptive and confirmatory tests on samples taken last March 17 found the presence of non-coliform bacteria.
While the water sample conforms with the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water with regard to coliform bacteria, turbidity observed in the samples after a 48-hour incubation period indicated the growth of non-coliform bacteria.
As a precaution, residents are advised to boil the water obtained from the source for at least 20 minutes prior to consumption to avoid gastric upset, especially among children.The biology department also recommended that the cistern/water lines be cleaned.
The Southville water test results can be accessed here.
5 Responses to Water at Southville relocation site
unsafe for drinking — Ateneo study
joselu
May 18th, 2006 at 8:12 pm
anyone who drinks top water even if your in plosh villeges of makati does so at his own risk.
I never herd Manila Water or Maynilad advertise that top water is safe.
Better to spend a littel for bottled water or boil the water first, cuz it’s far more expensive to get sick.
Let’s not make it appear that the north/ south rail relocators did not encounter the problem even before they where relocated.
I think, it’s more important to inform people where are the safe sources of drinking water.
It’s certainly not from deep wells.
jr_lad
May 18th, 2006 at 9:53 pm
outrageous!!! close down manila water or maynilad!
Alecks Pabico
May 20th, 2006 at 12:07 am
Jr_lad,
The water is sourced from deep wells.
jr_lad
May 20th, 2006 at 1:38 pm
alecks, i was not really referring to the relocation site but to the comment. just to make a point, it made a slanted example of the water companies making them look irresponsible and incompetent. water is essential to human existence. could it be the key word really is TRUST why millions of people are risking their lives in the hands of those water companies in the absence of any advertisement for clean water? the TRUST that the setting president does not enjoy at present.
and could it be also due to monopoly? do we see any advertisement from MERALCO?
joselu
May 20th, 2006 at 3:32 pm
Jr., a long time ago it was safe to frink top water. But as time has passed the pipe networks have diteriorated.
Infact, be it Maynidal & Manila water, they are undertaking the changing of the water pipe network.
The amount of water we consume for external consumption is far greater then the water we drink.
People will complain when there is a water cut-off not because they will have less drinking water but because of the desruption in the household activities.
Even in western & developed countries people do not drink top water as a matter of course.Although they have a modern system running.
I think to think that water companies will give us drinking water quality is to pretend to much.
Obviously, there is a difference between the quality of top water & bottled water.
It’s better to be safe then sorry only because we pretended to much from the water companies.