MIWD Passes PNSW Audit and Water Safety Plan – 2024
In an essential industry such as the Water Utilities industry, Water safety is of the paramount importance–more so than other metrics. The Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) takes exacting and great measures comply with water safety standards, and to do so with consistency.
So it is with great honor that the MIWD have passed two critical water safety standards, as well as numbering among the few water utilities to have done well so in both standards.
The Water Safety Plan
The Water Safety Plan (WSP) is a comprehensive risk management strategy used by water utilities to ensure the safety and quality of drinking water, from the source all the way to the consumer’s tap. The WSP framework is based on guidelines established by the World Health Organization (WHO), enforced by the Department of Health (DOH) thru the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) in compliance with the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 and other regulatory requirements
The primary goal of the WSP is to protect public health by ensuring a safe and reliable water supply, reducing the risks of waterborne diseases.
Within the WSP are protocols to prevent contamination, improve water quality, and manage risks associated with water supply system and improve the operational efficiency of water utilities by identifying weaknesses and ensuring proper resource management.
Though it has taken a couple of years to accomplish, The MIWD stands proud as one of the few Water Utilities in the Philippines that have completely complied with and passed the Water Safety Plan standards.
The PNSDW Audit Standards
The Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water (PNSDW)is a set of regulatory guidelines established by the Department of Health (DOH) that outline the minimum water quality requirements to ensure safe and potable drinking water in the Philippines. What distinguishes the PNSW from other existing and adjacent water safety standards is its focus on water safety from a chemical, physical and microbial level from continuous water testing and monitoring.
It is indeed a great privilege for MIWD to have received the “seal of approval” from the Commission on Audit in relation to the PNSDW—a result from the Compliance Audit on the Standards of Water Sampling and Examination of MIWD for the year 2023, and was conducted in accordance with the International Standards of Supreme Audit Institution (ISSAI) 4000 – a very stringent set of standards with which many companies do not even pass.
The MIWD, however, not only passed with flying colors, but even exceeded in the methodologies set by the PNSDW, and this is in no small thanks to the dedication and diligence of its Water Distribution and NRW Division.
Having successfully complied with the PNSDW and the Water Safety Plan—with outstanding results in both—MIWD cannot, and should not, rest on its laurels. Upholding the standards on a day to day basis with its many challenges takes meticulous commitment, and MIWD will be taking on those challenges unwavering dedication, diligence, and care for its water-consuming community.
