Water is one of the most important basic needs of every living creature especially to humans. Water aside from quenching our thirst, we use it for cooking, bathing, washing dishes and more. But the question is, with the large amount of water we consume daily, are we all sure it is safe? In an article posted in Rappler, it says that with the aim of every households to ensure clean water for drinking and cooking consumption water stations became the most common way to obtain potable water for the family. Up to date there are more than 20,000 water refilling stations in the country, 40% of households nationwide and 60% of Metro Manila residents buy drinking water according to the said article.
Water refilling stations should undergo series of screening and need to pass the standards of the Department of Health (DOH) under the Presidential Decree 856. The decree says that the establishment must be least 25 meters away from any direct source of pollution, and not in an area subject to flooding. It also states that there the water and the container must be properly sanitized to avoid contamination.
We all know that one of the main reasons of the increasing child fatality in the world is because of not having clean water, which leads to diarrhea. And in the study of World Health Organization that 3.4 million people die as a result of water related diseases that includes children and adult. That’s why the Rappler article is a good reminder to everyone to check if the water we are consuming is safe. Aside from the preparation and handling in all water refill stations, it is important the family should know how to prevent contamination on the water we are drinking.
After all prevention is better than cure that’s why we need to be vigilant on the water we drink from the water refill stations or the convenient stores we buy the water and the way we store it. We all have part for taking care of ourselves and also the health of our family.