Maasin City, Philippines has a population of 91,120 people across 70 barangays. Approximately 50.30% of households, or 10,047 households, have access to Level III water services provided either by local governments or private operators. Level III indicates a piped distribution system and household taps. Privately-owned Prime Water serves 6,884 households, or 34.46% of the total. Access to Level II (piped distribution but communal taps) is available to 28.85% of households, while 16.77% access Level I (unimproved sources like wells). The document calls for establishing an independent team to audit water sources and improve baseline data on water access and safety across all levels of service

1. May 28, 2021
Approximately about 50.30% or 10,047 households out
of the total 19,972 householdsinthe city belongtolevel
III water service category. This means that it is
connectedtoa waterworks providereitheroperated by
barangaylocal governmentunitorprivatelymaintained
waterworks system with a reservoir, a piped
distribution network and household taps or has
individual house connection. Comfortably 6,884 of
these households are being served by Prime Water, a
privatelyowned waterservice provideror34.46% of the
total household in the city is guaranteed of a safely
manageddrinkingwaterservice by Prime Water works.
Their services accounts to 30% of the total 70 barangay
of the city of which are mostly located in coastal areas
and densely populated communities. (Locator Map
Attached and Number of Households Served)
Access to Level II or a water system composed of a
source, a reservoir, a piped distribution network and
communal faucets accounts to 5,763 households or
28.85% of the total estimated 19,972 households in the
citywhile 3,350 householdshave accesstoLevel I water
source or 16.77% of the total households. These are the
population that fetched water from a point source, a
dug or deep well, a developed spring and protected
wells. These alsoinclude improved/unimproved water
source type classification either with an outlet but
withoutdistributionsystem. Generallytheyare located
in far flung barangays and urban poor communities.
Levels I, II and III classification despite the recognition
that an improvedsource candescribe alevel of sanitary
protection, but does not ensure water is safe and free
of contamination. Barangaylocal government units are
requiredtohave periodicwaterquality testing for fecal
Safely Manage Drinking Water Services Assessment Report for the City of Maasin,
SouthernLeyte, Philippines.
Maasin City is composed of 70 barangays with a total land area of 21,171 hectares. It has a total population of
91,120 and an estimated 19,972 households in 2020. Located in the tropics, 100% of our population has access to
water.
Safely managed drinking water services as a service ladder set for by the Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDG)
criteriaformonitoringof drinkingwater asthe new baseline. Itevolves from the Millennium Developmental Goals
metricfrom“ImprovedWaterSource”whichis presentlybeingusedformonitoring inthe city. Considering the SDG
2030 target of achievinguniversal andequitableaccesstosafe and affordable drinkingwaterforall,these indicators
can highlightrequired gaps to overcome equitable access to Safely Manage Drinking Water Services for the City of
Maasin to include the additional criteriaof availabilitywhenneeded,accessibilityonpremise and safety (free faecal
and chemical contamination).
Environmental Occupational Healthreportingisbeing used for progress monitoring and evaluation for a significant
fraction of water services in the city. The creation of an independent specialized verification team to ascertain
delivery of safe drinking water for all could be determined with physical inventory and audit of all water sources
from deep and dug wells, to spring and improved water sources in the entire locality to establish better baseline
data and other service indicators.

2. contamination and regular water examination is done
using colilert-18 method of analysis as prescribed
standard value for bacteriological quality and high risk
household population are constantly reminded to boil
drinking water as popular treatment.
The city also has 28 water refilling stations mostly
located in the city centers and availability of bottled
product reached to mountainous community outlets.
Yet, a considerable number of our population has to
rely on small community water supplies for their
everyday basic needs. These water service providers
run by barangay water associations often tends to lack
capacities for essential management operations,
maintenance, and implementation of technical
improvements.
Some few examples of unprotected spring from point
source goingto community water supply system above
are importantsituationsthatcancomplimentadditional
necessary information. It may be included as level III
structure in reporting but it requires a great level of
managementactionsinorderto improve the safety and
quality of supplied water.
Managing small community water supply is a concern
and more at riskof breakdownandcontamination. The
greatest risks to health from these water supplies are
the potential formicrobial contaminationandoutbreaks
of infectious diseases.
The creationof an independentspecialized verification
teamto ascertaindelivery of safe drinking water for all
couldbe determined with physical inventory and audit
of all water sources from deep and dug wells, to spring
and improved water sources in the entire locality to
establish better baseline data and other service
indicators.
“Safe water for all without discrimination is a human
right,officiallyrecognizedbythe United Nation in 2010.
The global commitment to safe water for all is further
demonstrated through the Sustainable Development
Goals(SDG) 6 target to achieve universal and equitable
access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
However, many of our people cannot yet claim their
fundamental right to water, and this lack of access to
safelymanage drinkingwater is felt disproportionately
by those who are disadvantage socially, economically,
demographicallyorgeographically. Equitable access to
safe drinking water will therefore only be achieved if
particular attention is paid to vulnerable and
marginalized groups to understand and address
disparities.”
Water Safety Plan (WSP) represents an important
opportunity to contribute to the realization of these
goals and to human rights to water, provided that
equity is duly considered. This means that all groups
should have the opportunity for meaningful
participationin,andequitable benefitfromwatersafety
planning.
Water Safety Plan contributes to positive outcomes by
creating opportunity for meaningful participation and
by facilitating the identification and mitigation of
inequities in access to safe water. In addition,
consideringequity through the WSP process will result
in stronger WSPs that address a greater range of social
and technical hazardous events and identify more
effective and sustainable control measures.
The 2030 road to achieving universal and equitable
access to safe and affordable water for all might be far
away buteveryjourneybegins with a single step. Let’s
start to make it happen.
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