DEQ accused of targeting small bottled water companies

Is the Division of Environmental Quality picking on small bottled water companies?

DEQ claims it is not. But Aquabest and Crystal Water believe otherwise.

The two bottled water companies said they have been the target of the recent inspections by DEQ simply because they do not have automated bottle washer.

“It is not true. We are not picking on them. We test everyone and we are concerned about the public’s health which is our top priority,” said Michael Wright, DEQ’s public information officer.

Acting DEQ Director Antonio I. Guerrero admitted that the notices of violations issued so far by the agency have been to companies that do not have the more sophisticated type of equipment.

In most cases, he said, water contamination is caused by dirty bottles.

As a result, he added, island residents asked if their bottled water companies have an approved automated bottle washing machine.

Such statement leaves the small companies that cannot afford to invest in automated bottle washing machine, which cost $20,000 to $30,000, at the losing end, said Aquabest general manager Michael Magsaysay.

“It destroys our credibility. Just like the big water companies, we want to provide high quality drinking water at reasonable price,” said Magsaysay.

Although they are not equipped with an automated bottle washer, the staff at Crystal Water carries out a more rigorous process in cleaning the bottles, according to its manager Romeo Urbien.

“We use a chlorine solution to clean the bottles and rinse these with hot water which we boiled at 140 F,” he explained.

Crystal Water was recently asked to stop selling bottled waters by DEQ after its samples exceeded the maximum microbiological contaminant level. However, tests conducted by the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., another agency accredited by the Environmental Protection Agency, yielded negative results. DEQ said it will conduct its own test.

“Having an automated bottle washer does not give you a 100 percent assurance that you will be selling clean and safe bottled water. Unfortunately, we have been singled out. I hope they are also strict to big companies,” said Urbien. Just like the rest, Magsaysay said, they do not want to endanger the people’s health thus, they are conscious of their responsibility of selling clean and safe bottled water.

A gallon of water on Saipan used to cost $3 but the entry of small bottled water companies like Aquabest and Crystal Water forced the big companies to lower their prices.

DEQ has stepped up efforts to monitor bottled water companies on Saipan and Tinian by conducting random, unannounced sampling of one establishment every week. In the past, DEQ has conducted random sampling of bottled water companies once a month.