While Far Eastern University (FEU) sources its water from Maynilad Water Services, Inc., which manages “drinking-water quality from catchment to consumer,” it further implements a 21-stage water filtration system to further ensure the delivery of high-quality drinking water while promoting environmental sustainability.
“We went above and beyond the Commission on Higher Education's requirements by investing additionally in our own potable water plant to produce and deliver safe water at the least cost,” said FEU president Juan Miguel R. Montinola. “Prior to this centralized system, we rented 45 portable cold drinking fountains distributed across the campus and purchased drinking water in 5 gallon containers. This upgrade represents a significant step in directly controlling water quality and promoting greater efficiency and sustainability.”
Ready to Drink
For his part, FEU’s Vice President for Facilities and Technical Services Edward R. Kilakiga said after treated water is sourced from Maynilad it goes through the additional stages of water filtration to bring out optimal water quality.
“The advanced technology effectively eliminates dissolved solids, harmful chemicals, and biological contaminants, ensuring exceptional water purity,” said Kilakiga. This is in addition to Maynilad’s delivery of “safe, affordable, and sustainable water solutions.”
Brothers and nursing students Zachary Cyril and Zsigmund Chyle said they sometimes drink from FEU’s water fountains.
“We usually buy water in the canteen or bring our [own water in] flasks,” said the Arce twins. “We drink at the FC’s water fountains.” They added that they refill their flasks from FEU’s fountains.
“[Our] friends utilize the school’s water fountains,” they said.
Ambient drinking fountains found in all classroom locations while cold drinking fountains are installed and located in Accounts, Business and Finance Building, Nursing, and Nicanor B. Reyes Sr. Hall canteens. More cold drinking water fountains will be installed over the next 3 months.
Centralized Plant
FEU’s centralized water system is located on the Nursing Building roof deck. The supply tanks and the 3000 gallon-per-day capacity plant serves as the cornerstone of FEU's water infrastructure, exemplifying the university’s foresight and commitment to sustainability.
“[The centralized drinking plant] is secure. It seems complicated but a flow-chart shows how it is operated and maintained,” said John Anthony Yason, Dean of the Institute of Health Sciences and Nursing.
Water is distributed via dedicated and above ground piping, ensuring additional protection from a flood prone University belt and city.
Yason added that his faculty and students do drink from the water fountains on campus—confident about the filtration process that it goes through.
In addition to the mandatory and regulatory water testing, FEU conducts additional testing across all outlets as part of the regime of ensuring optimum plant efficiency and water product safety .
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