WATER sourced from Sto. Tomas rain basin is safe for consumption.

Baguio Water District (BWD) General Manager Teresita de Guzman debunked fears that fertilizer and other chemical residues find their way to the distribution system.

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De Guzman said there is a canal and perimeter fence built to prevent intrusion of contaminants to the nine-hectare BWD rain basin and that every year, curative measures are done to ensure the water’s cleanliness.

She also explained that water from the basin is not distributed to end-users. “Collected water is first released to a reservoir located also in Mt. Sto. Tomas, then undergoes chlorination in filtration tanks.”

Water is then tested before it is channeled to distribution networks, de Guzman explained when called at the City Council to clarify the contamination that recently took place in Navy Base and adjoining barangays after the Claro M. Recto pipe was contaminated with water from a sewer pipe.

Water distributed from the rain basin caters to residents along the Marcos highway area.

A diarrhea outbreak was declared by the City Health Services Office after several residents have been hospitalized or were treated at home for ingestion of contaminated water.

De Guzman assured the public a similar incident would not occur again in the future.