We in SUBICWATER always encourage people to follow our example and drink water straight from the tap. This is how confident we are with the quality of water that comes out of our treatment facilities.

But of course, some people choose to have their water undergo further filtration process to suit their personal preference or pursue a perceived health benefit. After all, the debate about the ‘best’ water rages on— simple tap water, ‘mineral’, ‘alkaline’, ‘pure’, and more.

Whichever kind of water floats your boat, SUBICWATER has just one reminder, and that is to ensure that your water is indeed safe for drinking.

Dong’s horror story

Dong (real name hidden for privacy) could not recall a single month pass by without him having to endure a few ‘emergency’ trips to the toilet.

He thought he had just a weak stomach. “I only drink water bought from the refilling station, so I never thought much about water being the cause.”

It was so until the day he found scores of mosquito larvae swimming inside his newly-delivered five-gallon bottled water.

The samples he brought to SUBICWATER for water quality testing revealed the absence of residual chlorine, which should have destroyed bacteria and viruses and made water fit for drinking. In fact, laboratory tests by SUBICWATER detected alarming levels of bacteria that can cause typhoid fever, cholera, hepatitis, and other water-borne diseases.

IDENTIFYING THE CULPRIT:

SUBICWATER’s laboratory head Leah Yulas offers possible explanations as to how Dong’s water got contaminated:

 

1. Zero chlorine residual

Most water treatment systems being used by refilling stations completely filter out the residual chlorine intentionally left by SUBICWATER. Without the disinfectant chlorine, bacteria can easily multiply in water.

2. Improper storage and handling

Dirty water processing and storage facilities, unsanitary work processes or personnel are potential sources of pathogens. Filtered water that is stored for too long (even in closed containers) are at a higher risk of contamination since pathogens may have already multiplied.

3. Ill-maintained filters

Whichever type of water gizmo that your household or neighborhood refilling station uses, it will definitely have some type of filter in it.

Filters that are not cleaned or replaced at required intervals become the breeding ground of bacteria. Instead of screening them out, expired filters can actually allow the built-up contaminants to pass through, making the water more contaminated than it originally was before filtration.

Quality check

Water refilling stations are required by law to have their products tested regularly by those accredited by the Department of Health (DOH), such as SUBICWATER’s laboratory. Water samples should be tested monthly for the microbiological aspect, and twice a year for the physical and chemical aspect.

When in doubt, you can ask your neighborhood water station to present certifications that its water has passed these requirements. Or, you may collect water samples on your own and send it to SUBICWATER’s laboratory for water quality testing.