Quezon City authorities have asked the public to report water refilling stations selling contaminated water or passing off tap water as mineral or the purified variety to their clients.

Councilor Jorge “Bolet’’ Banal Jr. of the city’s third district raised the alarm after receiving complaints that some clients protested the awful taste of the items which they presumed to be mineral or purified water.

In some cases, Banal said that the complaining customers said that water delivered which was suppose to be purified had a foul-smelling aroma raising suspicion that they were unfit for drinking.

“I have heard that some suffered diarrhea after drinking the dirty water which was labeled as purified or mineral water. In any case may I request the customers to immediately report such incidents to my office right after the delivery so that I can make the necessary representations to clamped down the spurious water refilling stations,’’ Banal noted.

Banal said that in the name of fairness and due process the complaining customers have to immediately air their grievance as possible deterrent to unscrupulous groups from extorting money from legitimate businessmen.

He expressed no fear that running after the rogue water refilling station owners would jeopardize his bid for the House seat bid in the city’s third district against incumbent Congressman Matias Defensor.

To avert the sale of contaminated drinking water, Banal said he will make arrangements for concerned local authorities to conduct surprise inspections of water refilling stations in the city.

With the high demand for mineral and purified water, Banal said he will institute measures to start the random inspections on water refilling stores or vendors openly selling bottled water with cloudy appearances and foul smell.

He will also ask Pacifico Maghacot chief of the city’s Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) to revoke the licenses of non-complying water refilling stations in the city.

“I understand that the personnel manning the water refilling station should be in uniform and the premises should always be clean and as hygienic as possible to ensure public safety. I would also like to find out if the water filters are changed regularly,’’ Banal added.

To ensure that only safe drinking water are sold, Banal said that the crew and even the owners of the water refilling station should undergo regular seminars where business ethics should be emphasized.

He noted that some shrewd businessmen in the drinking water delivery business may be aware of the methods of keeping their product safe but deliberately violates the safety schemes to maximize profit and even it put the public’s health at risk.