ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Department of Science and Technology 9-Regional Standards and Testing Laboratories (DOST 9-RSTL) is now accredited to test drinking water.
Martin Wee, DOST-9 director, on Saturday said the Health Facilities and Services Regulatory Bureau (HFSRB) recently conferred the accreditation to DOST 9-RSTL for Chemical, Physical, and Bacteriological Analysis to test drinking water.
The HFSRB is an attached agency of the Department of Health (DOH) that grants Certificate of Accreditation (COA) to laboratories that meet the prescribed standards and technical requirements.
The agency protects public health safety and welfare by ensuring the accuracy, precision, and reliability of results generated by drinking water testing laboratories.
Wee said the DOST 9’s RSTL will now be able to accept drinking water samples, including process water from refilling stations for analyses with the conferment of the certificate of accreditation.
Wee said monitoring water quality through sample testing is an important process to ensure a safe and reliable water source.
He added that regular testing is vital to the sustainability of the water source, considering that quality of water may change over time.
“These changes may occur unnoticed, and may result to contamination. Regular testing and analysis will also address the necessary treatment needed in cases of water contamination,” he said.
Wee said the accreditation is valid until December 31, 2020. (PNA)
