Saipan Ice & Water hires full-time chemist

Saipan Ice & Water Co. Inc. has added a registered chemical engineer to its staff, assuring customers further that the Sparkle-Clean drinking water and ice they buy are safe and were produced using highest quality standards.

Melissa Panuringan is the water company’s newest member of its Quality & Compliance Section. Panuringan, or Lisa to her friends, is a chemical engineer from the Philippines. She has been working for Procter & Gamble Philippines for a number of years as Laboratory Chemist when Saipan Ice & Water offered her the same position, which she accepted.

At Saipan Ice & Water, Panuringan’s responsibilities include daily sampling of both raw and product waters, for microbiology testing at the company’s in-house laboratory.

This will assure the quality not only of the company’s drinking water but also that of specially processed water delivered to the Commonwealth Health Center for use in hemodialysis.

The laboratory was put up over five years ago to further enhance safety and quality of drinking water before bottling and delivery to customers. Since then, in addition to monthly Division of Environmental Quality/Environmental Protection Agency water quality monitoring, Saipan Ice & Water monitors its product water daily.

Panuringan also now handles compliance with all other water and wastewater quality monitoring required by EPA, DEQ and the Department of Environmental Health. Water samples for periodic testing or analysis required by various government agencies are sent to DEQ certified laboratories on Saipan and in the United States.

Among Panuringan’s other important tasks is to ensure that processed water are tested before and after bottling. The company bottles drinking water in 5-gallon and five other smaller sizes of clear plastic containers. She will also be taking samples of water in tanks provided to bulk customers such as retail stores, restaurants, hotels and apartments.

If you are wondering whether your well water or rainwater is safe for drinking or other household use, Saipan Ice & Water management said that they are now offering water testing for bacteria and other basic water quality parameters at a very reasonable fee. You don’t have to be their customer to take advantage of the offer. The company emphasize, though, that they are not a DEQ-certified laboratory. Call Panuringan at 322-6130 or 322-9848 and they will even come to your place to pick up the samples.