Prescribed Standards and Procedures.
SEC. 9. Prescribed Standards and Procedures.—Standards
for drinking water and their bacteriological and chemical examinations,
together with the evaluation of results, shall conform to the criteria
set by the National Drinking Water Standards. The treatment of water to
render it safe for drinking, and the disinfection of contaminated water
sources together with their distribution systems shall be in accordance
with procedures prescribed by the Department.
Jurisdiction of the Department.
SEC. 10. Jurisdiction of the Department.—The
approval of the Secretary or that of his duly authorized representative
is required in the following cases:
Sites of water sources before their construction;
Delivery of water to consumers from new or recently repaired
water systems;
Operation of a water system after an order of closure was issued
by the Department;
Plans and specifications of water systems of sub divisions and
projects prior to the construction of housing units thereat; and
Certification of potability of drinking water.
Types of Water Examinations Required.
SEC. 11. Types of Water Examinations Required.—The
following examinations are required for drinking water:
Initial examination.—The physical, chemical and
bacteriological examinations of water from newly constructed systems or
sources are required be fore they are operated and opened for public
use. Examination of water for possible radioactive contamination should
also be done initially.
Periodic examination.—Water from existing sources is subject to
bacteriological examination as of ten as possible but the interval
shall not be longer than six months, while general systematic chemical
examination shall be conducted every 12 months or oftener.
Examination of water sources shall be conducted yearly for possible
radioactive contamination.
Examining Laboratories And Submission of Water Samples.
SEC. 12. Examining Laboratories And Submission of Water
Samples.—The examination of drinking water shall be performed only
in private or government laboratories duly accredited by the Department.
It is the responsibility of operators of water systems to submit to
accredited laboratories water samples for examination in a manner and at
such intervals prescribed by the Department.
Other Protective Measures.
SEC. 13. Other Protective Measures.—To protect
drinking water from contamination, the following measures shall be
observed:
Washing clothes or bathing within a radius of 25 meters from
any well or other source of drinking water is prohibited.
No artesians, deep or shallow well shall be constructed within
25 meters from any source of pollution.
No radioactive sources or materials shall be stored within a
radius of 25 meters from any well or source of drinking water unless
the radioactive source is adequately and safely enclosed by proper
shielding.
No person charged with the management of a public water
supply system shall permit any physical connection between its
distribution system and that of any other water supply, unless the
latter is regularly examined as to its quality by those incharge of the
public supply to which the connection is made and found to be safe and
potable.
The installation of a booster pump to boost water direct from
the water distribution line of a water supply system, where low-water
pressure prevails is prohibited.
Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).
