30 March 2020
PRESS STATEMENT

In response to public concern over the possible Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) contamination of our drinking water and wastewater within the Concession Areas; the MWSS Regulatory Office (RO), after conducting thorough investigation on the matter, ensures the following:

1) The water supply maintained in our distribution systems up to the customers’ taps has been disinfected with chlorine, as prescribed by the Philippine National Standard for Drinking Water (PNSDW) set by the Department of Health (DOH). Our water is therefore free from bacteria and viruses (including the COVID-19 virus) and is safe for domestic consumption.

2) The wastewater discharged from our Sewage and/or Septage Treatment Plants (STPs) into our receiving water bodies has also been disinfected with chlorine; in accordance with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order 2016-08 or the “Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards.”

In a technical brief on water, sanitation, hygiene, and waste management for the COVID-19 virus released by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 19 March 2020; the WHO maintained that chlorine disinfection should inactivate the COVID-19 virus.

The MWSS RO assures the public that it is continuously and rigorously monitoring the quality of our water and wastewater to protect the health and safety of its consumers, as well as the environment.

(sgd.)
PATRICK LESTER N. TY
Chief Regulator

Department of Health (Philippines)
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)