Eighty percent of the human body is composed of water and the planet earth is composed nearly of the same percentage. And it is a fact that water is important especially to those countries that lack fresh water and unfortunately and expensively resort to conversion of sea water to potable water, like those countries in the Middle East. The Philippines, however, is one of the fortunate countries that is blessed with an abundant supply of fresh water, yet, it is also a sad fact that its abundance is coupled with abundance of misuse and abuse.

There is no need to explain much the issues of misuse and abuse for one would just look (or even smell it) at the state of Pasig River or the nearby creeks to know the real condition of water in the country, and perhaps some Filipinos would just shrug a shoulder while some acted on it. However, those who kept a blind eye and a cold shoulder would be surprised, if not alarmed, to know that the quality of water that goes into the faucet is by and by of their own doing.

Other environmental factors like land pollution also contributes to the quality of water that one enjoys, however, a tete-a-tete with two German water experts reveals that there are other factors that affect the quality of water aside from pollution. What other significant factors could possibly affect water condition? This writer asked and while waiting for the somewhat big revelation, they briefly answer, “water pipes.”

Frank Neuendorf, International Sales Director of Best Water Technology (BWT), says that there is no country in the world that could maintain the water pipes in 100 percent good condition, even in countries known to have the strictest water standards like Germany. He explains that there is now a European drinking water law that strictly impose that all plumbers, wholesalers, dealers and consultants to fulfill and obey the European water standards, otherwise, if an end-user gets ill and it was found out that the illness was brought about by contaminated water, the end-user have all the right to sue either the plumber, wholesaler, dealer or consultant who approved or used sub-standard piping materials.

However, Neuendorf further explains that since no country could get rid of water impurities 100 percent due to the condition of the pipes, the end-user is expected to do his part in ensuring the quality of water, and this he could do by installing his own point-of-use water filtration.

“Even in Germany which have the strongest water standards in the world, even stronger than the Americans, we have standards and laws that the end-user has to share a certain responsibility to keep the water in good condition,” he says. Unfortunately, there is no known similar law in the country and in some cases, with the irony of it all, indigent Filipinos even enjoy water coming from busted water pipes.

Yet, he explains that, “He must use in his home approved high quality material otherwise if you use cheap materials, you will infect the water with chemicals or bacteria.”

Cecil Jueco-Berdul of Kuysen Enterprises, Inc. shares her conversation with an officer of the water sewerage system in the country that the officer assured her that the water filtration and treatment system follows a strict quality guideline, however, situations in other countries, the Philippines too face challenges in the maintenance of water pipes. And this is perhaps the reason why many water filtration stations sprouted in every nooks and crannies of Manila and other metropolitan areas.

From water osmosis and many other filtration processes, water stations offer various methods on how to deliver safe and clean water, still, Berdul was intrigued once by its quality that she went to the University of the Philippines (UP) Department of College of Health and had two water samples tested. Following the UP standard in gathering water samples, she had the samples tested and found out that one was contaminated while the other was free of any impurities.

“Yung may impurities ay galing sa water dispenser,” she tells while the other came from the faucet installed with point-of-use water filtration, and she explains that some impurities could be fatal to the health for it may contain e-coli or worst legionella.

According to Pascal Scher, key account manager of BWT, legionella is a bacteria that kills approximately 1,500 people a year in Germany and about 15,000 people died due to other water impurities and bacteria. “They died because the piping system is dirty inside and it makes very easy to grow bacteria and viruses.”

He further tells that legionella even caused one five-star hotel in Berlin closed for several days and those days were used to disinfect the water system. “During the days that you do not make the water move, then you use it, you’ll breathe the bacteria then you’ll get infected, especially those people who have weakened immune system.”

Neuendorf and Scher, both are wide traveler, share that China had similar drinking water problems like the Philippines but Malaysia tells a different story for very small particles were found. However, the Philippines faces more problems than the piping system. Being a tropical country, its hot temperature makes bacteria thrive especially on those water that sit on the roof tanks at high temperature for days. Yet, Filipinos already knew the different water contaminants, bacteria and viruses that made the water pipes or roof tanks its dwelling place and this accounts to the high demand of water dispensers and water refilling stations, still, the water experts reveal that even water from the dispenser or refilling stations cannot ensure clean and safe water.

Berdul observes that some refilling stations follow poor sanitary processes and that the water containers used in these stations are equally not sanitized. Indeed, Filipinos are left with little alternatives then but to install their own water filtration system and if not, still resort to water refilling stations or buy bottled water. But the big question is, what would become of the plastic bottle wastes then?

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