AN INCREASING number of consumers are installing outdoor water filters at their houses in addition to the filters inside the home.
While Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) insists that it is unnecessary to install an outdoor water filtration system as it would eliminate free chlorine and minerals from treated water, water filter companies claim otherwise.
National Water Services Commission (SPAN) CEO Datuk Teo Yen Hua said that generally, the water from the public water supply system was safe and met the Malaysian Drinking Water Standards set by the Health Ministry, which were based on the World Health Organisation standards.
The water contains chlorine as a disinfectant and fluoride as required by the Health Ministry to prevent tooth decay among children, but some outdoor water filters or ‘point-of-entry’ filters installed at the meter tend to remove these two elements.
“In complying with the Drinking Water Standard set by the ministry, the water operator has to ensure that there is some residual or free chlorine of between 0.2 and 5mg/l in the distribution system.
“The residual chlorine acts as a shield to counter or prevent contamination. Without it, water stored in the tanks will not be protected against possible contamination,” Teo said.
To ensure the supplied water is safe, the ministry’s National Water Surveillance Programme tests samples at various locations in the water supply system regularly for certain parameters. The Chemistry Department also regularly tests the water for other parameters.
“Water treatment operators conduct their own tests at the treatment plant at least every two hours to ensure that the treated water complies with the standards.
“SPAN also carries out regular audits at treatment plants and distribution systems to regulate the water quality,” Teo said.
Nonetheless, silt or other particles might enter the system when repair works are carried out on burst or leaked pipes, although the pipes need to be flushed before the supply is restored.
“Under such circumstances, the water is still safe from any bacteria as the water is chlorinated,” he said.
Waterco, a water filter company, said its point-of-entry filters are designed not to remove chlorine, but only other impurities and sediment resulting from old pipes.
“Our consumers are constantly reminded that chlorine is essential, especially if the water is not for drinking.
“Filters to purify drinking water can be installed in the kitchen and our point-of-use units are designed to do this effectively,” Waterco (Far East) Sdn Bhd Asian region manager Yong Heng Foo said.
Another company, Bacfree, said its filters do not remove chlorine completely at point-of-entry.
“We agree that chlorine is important but excessive chlorine should be reduced, as high chlorine levels may be harmful to our health,” Bacfree technical director Dr Chee Chung Yee said.
He explained that Bacfree outdoor filters get rid of sediment (silt, rust and suspended solids) and colour, reduce excessive chlorine and its by-products such as trihalomethane, reduce and absorb harmful organic chemicals, and inmprove the smell and taste of the water.
“We keep enough chlorine to protect the water in the tanks. It plays a positive role in water storage, but the role is no longer required when you are consuming the water,” Dr Chee said.
Syabas has explained that the residue on the filters was the compound of minerals eliminated from the treated water, and the water should not contain mud or sand.
Dr Chee said the water supplied by Syabas has no doubt met the criteria set by the authority, but it was an individual’s right to seek water of better quality.
“The criteria cite the minimum required quality and do not reflect the best quality. For instance, water with turbidity below 5 NTU can appear yellowish while other developed countries set the requirement at 0.5 NTU.
“Although subtances like organic chemicals and chlorine exist in minute and permissable concentrations, they might accumulate in our body and pose potential health problems in the long run,” he said.
On the installation of water filters, SPAN offered this advice, “Consumers can install point-of-entry filters should they feel that the water is not up to their standards.
“However, they must be aware that a filter can enhance the quality of the water and can also cause the quality of water to deteriorate.”
Teo cautioned that filters can become a breeding place for harmful bacteria if not properly and regularly maintained.
“Water can backflow or get siphoned back through such filters into the distribution pipes and contaminate the water in the public system.
“We are currently developing rules to require point-of-entry filters to be installed with non-return or one-way valves to prevent such backflow,” Teo said.- THESTAR
While Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) insists that it is unnecessary to install an outdoor water filtration system as it would eliminate free chlorine and minerals from treated water, water filter companies claim otherwise.
National Water Services Commission (SPAN) CEO Datuk Teo Yen Hua said that generally, the water from the public water supply system was safe and met the Malaysian Drinking Water Standards set by the Health Ministry, which were based on the World Health Organisation standards.
The water contains chlorine as a disinfectant and fluoride as required by the Health Ministry to prevent tooth decay among children, but some outdoor water filters or ‘point-of-entry’ filters installed at the meter tend to remove these two elements.
Good enough: Roowina (third from right) drinking the unboiled treated water supplied by Syabas to prove that the water is of drinkable quality. Joining her are Uniten deputy vice-chancellor Prof Dr Kamal Nasharuddin Mustapha (right) and Syabas water quality and asset department senior general manager Muhamad Darif Idris (second from right).
“In complying with the Drinking Water Standard set by the ministry, the water operator has to ensure that there is some residual or free chlorine of between 0.2 and 5mg/l in the distribution system.
“The residual chlorine acts as a shield to counter or prevent contamination. Without it, water stored in the tanks will not be protected against possible contamination,” Teo said.
To ensure the supplied water is safe, the ministry’s National Water Surveillance Programme tests samples at various locations in the water supply system regularly for certain parameters. The Chemistry Department also regularly tests the water for other parameters.
“Water treatment operators conduct their own tests at the treatment plant at least every two hours to ensure that the treated water complies with the standards.
“SPAN also carries out regular audits at treatment plants and distribution systems to regulate the water quality,” Teo said.
Nonetheless, silt or other particles might enter the system when repair works are carried out on burst or leaked pipes, although the pipes need to be flushed before the supply is restored.
“Under such circumstances, the water is still safe from any bacteria as the water is chlorinated,” he said.
Waterco, a water filter company, said its point-of-entry filters are designed not to remove chlorine, but only other impurities and sediment resulting from old pipes.
“Our consumers are constantly reminded that chlorine is essential, especially if the water is not for drinking.
“Filters to purify drinking water can be installed in the kitchen and our point-of-use units are designed to do this effectively,” Waterco (Far East) Sdn Bhd Asian region manager Yong Heng Foo said.
Another company, Bacfree, said its filters do not remove chlorine completely at point-of-entry.
“We agree that chlorine is important but excessive chlorine should be reduced, as high chlorine levels may be harmful to our health,” Bacfree technical director Dr Chee Chung Yee said.
He explained that Bacfree outdoor filters get rid of sediment (silt, rust and suspended solids) and colour, reduce excessive chlorine and its by-products such as trihalomethane, reduce and absorb harmful organic chemicals, and inmprove the smell and taste of the water.
“We keep enough chlorine to protect the water in the tanks. It plays a positive role in water storage, but the role is no longer required when you are consuming the water,” Dr Chee said.
Syabas has explained that the residue on the filters was the compound of minerals eliminated from the treated water, and the water should not contain mud or sand.
Dr Chee said the water supplied by Syabas has no doubt met the criteria set by the authority, but it was an individual’s right to seek water of better quality.
“The criteria cite the minimum required quality and do not reflect the best quality. For instance, water with turbidity below 5 NTU can appear yellowish while other developed countries set the requirement at 0.5 NTU.
“Although subtances like organic chemicals and chlorine exist in minute and permissable concentrations, they might accumulate in our body and pose potential health problems in the long run,” he said.
On the installation of water filters, SPAN offered this advice, “Consumers can install point-of-entry filters should they feel that the water is not up to their standards.
“However, they must be aware that a filter can enhance the quality of the water and can also cause the quality of water to deteriorate.”
Teo cautioned that filters can become a breeding place for harmful bacteria if not properly and regularly maintained.
“Water can backflow or get siphoned back through such filters into the distribution pipes and contaminate the water in the public system.
“We are currently developing rules to require point-of-entry filters to be installed with non-return or one-way valves to prevent such backflow,” Teo said.- THESTAR
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