Clean Water Act: Water Quality Management

• Republic Act No. 9275, also known as the Clean Water Act, provides a comprehensive framework for water quality management
• It focuses on stopping and controlling pollution from land-based sources and establishes water quality standards and regulations

Overview of the Law

• The primary goal is to protect the safety and potability of drinking water throughout the country
• A key element in regulating drinking water is ensuring the precision and reliability of results from testing facilities, as highlighted in PNSDW AO No. 2017-0010

Laws and Policies Regulating Laboratory Drinking Water Analysis (LDWA)

• These laws and policies are covered in Week 5 of the course
• Knowledge of these legal obligations helps Medical Technologists provide quality laboratory services, promoting patient well-being (SDG 3)

Key Legislative and Administrative Issuances

• Republic Act No. 9275, the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, is a foundational law
• Administrative Order No. 2006-0024 establishes the "Rules and Regulations Governing the Accreditation of Laboratories for Drinking Water Analysis (LDWA)"
• DOH Administrative Order No. 2020-0031 contains revised rules and regulations for LDWA accreditation
• Presidential Decree No. 856, or the Code on Sanitation of the Philippines (1975), mandates that initial and periodic drinking water examinations be performed by a DOH-Accredited water testing laboratory
• Laws are being revised to align with the latest PNSDW, resolve LDWA compliance issues, and ensure consistency with relevant laws

Scope and Coverage of LDWA Regulations

• These regulations apply to all agencies involved in enforcing drinking water quality standards and to all accredited LDWA facilities nationwide
• This includes national and local agencies, as well as private entities engaged in testing drinking water
• Drinking water laboratories used strictly for academic training, research, or internal monitoring are exempt from these regulations

Classification of LDWA

• LDWA is classified based on institutional character and ownership

Institutional Character

• Institution based: operates within a DOH-licensed health facility
• Free Standing: operates independently without being attached to a DOH-licensed health facility

Ownership

• Government: operated and maintained by national, provincial, city, or municipal government or other political unit or agency
• Private: privately owned and operated through funds from donations, investments, or other means

Specific Guidelines

• LDWA is classified by ownership, with distinctions between government and privately owned facilities

Classifications of LDWA by Service Capability

• Category A: Microbiological
• Category B: Physical Chemical
• Category C: Microbiological-Physical Chemical

Key Components for Compliance

• Services emphasizing Leadership & Management (Management Review) are vital
• Human Resources, including Personnel Management (HR Planning) and Staff Recruitment, Selection, Appointment & Responsibilities, are also crucial

Information Management

• Data Collection & Aggregation
• Records Management

Safety Practices and Environment

• Costumer & Staff Safety is important

Other important factors

• Improving Performance
• Equipment, Instruments, Reagents & Supplies

Regulatory Requirements for Drinking Water Analysis Laboratories

• License to Operate (LTO) from the DOH
• Compliance with PNSDW standards
• Accreditation through the DOH Environmental and Occupational Health Office (EOHO)
• Participation in external quality assurance programs to maintain accuracy and reliability

Definition of LDWA

• Laboratory for Drinking Water Analysis (LDWA) refers to a facility that performs microbiological, physical, and chemical analyses to determine the potability and safety of drinking water

Technical Requirements for LDWA

• The laboratory must be in a permanent building with adequate water, power, drainage, and ventilation, and it must be dust-free

Minimum area requirements include:

• Classification A 20 sqm. for sterile room and media preparation area
• Classification B 50 sqm. for wet chemistry area, ICP/AAS room, Spectrophotometer room, and chemical storage room
• Classification C - 70 sqm. for sterile room and media preparation area, wet chemistry area, ICP/AAS room, Spectrophotometer room, and chemical storage room

Adequate bench top area needed for:

• Sample processing

• Storage for chemicals, glassware, and supplies

• An area for cleaning and sterilizing materials and equipment

• The laboratory must have an appropriate waste disposal system for solid, liquid, and infectious wastes following DOH and DENR-EMB guidelines

Personnel Requirements

• The head of the laboratory must be a competent and experienced professional responsible for the laboratory's operation, personnel, functions, and data quality
• Analysts involved in laboratory procedures must be NRL-EOHTM trained, possess the appropriate degree and have at least two years of relevant experience in water testing

List of analyst professions

• Microbiology
• Physico-Chemical
• Registered Food Technologist
• Registered Chemist
• Registered Medical Technologist
• Certified Microbiologists
• Registered Chemical Technician

Parameters for Water Analysis

• For Microbiology, the Maximum Allowable Levels (MAL) for E. Coli should be 0
• For Physical Parameters, Turbidity should be 5 NTU and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) should be 500 Mg/L

Chemical Parameters should be:

• Ph 6.5-8.5
• Aluminium 0.2 Mg/L
• Kesadahan 500 Mg/L
• Sisa Klor 5 Mg/L