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Aquabest makes the passing mark
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Posted on Jan 29 1999
Water test conducted by the Division of Environmental Quality on Aquabest revealed that its bottled water is safe to drink, according to Joe Kaipat, acting manager of DEQ’s Safe Drinking Water branch.
However, Kaipat said Aquabest will only be allowed to resume operation if the company has implemented the various recommendations of DEQ.
“Their water has always been clean. It is their bottles that are dirty because they do not follow the right procedure,” said Kaipat. Aquabest tested negative of coliform last Tuesday January 26.
According to Kaipat, the recommendations include the installation of an automated bottle washer and keeping the bottled water station in an air conditioned room. These would ensure that the water is safe for public consumption.
Mikko Magsaysay, general manager of Aquabest assured the public that the company is doing everything to correct the situation so that they can resume operations at once.
DEQ was mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to conduct regular test on some eight water companies on the island. The CNMI’s Drinking Regulations comply with the U.S. EPA’s Drinking Water Primacy Act.
Aquabest was ordered closed by DEQ last week after random test disclosed that samples taken exceeded the maximum microbiological contaminant level established in the CNMI Drinking Water Regulations.
The Safe Water Drinking Branch has adopted new standard operating procedures for site inspections, sanitary surveys, sampling plans, monitoring, compliance reporting and enforcement of regulations.
Due to the introduction of many chemicals to the Northern Marianas, the Safe Drinking Water branch is currently implementing new regulations to monitor contaminants such as nitrate, asbestos and mercury. It is also on the lookout for pesticides, hydrocarbon contaminants and lead.
