Residents in Antique quench their thirst with non-salty seawater

A visitor of Barangay Maramig in Libertad, Antique was surprised when he was able to quench his thirst after drinking seawater from the province.

In Kuya Kim's report on "24 Oras," Thursday, the visitor, Esau Estomatan, said he was surprised that the water was fresh and did not get a stomachache from it.

Officials from the area said that residents have long been drinking water from their sea, saying it is fresh in taste.

"Dito na kumukuha 'yung residents ng inumin nila," Libertad, Antique Tourism officer Josephine Dioso said.

"Nung maliit pa ko, dito rin kami umiigib ng inumin namin. Fresh naman tsaka maganda naman po 'yung lasa," Barangay Kagawad Bernardo Matangga said.

A barangay health worker said that the seawater has been confirmed safe for drinking.

"Kami po ay nag-conduct ng water sample quarterly. Negative siya sa mikrobyo. Safe ito inumin," barangay health worker Victoria Tealogo said.

Dr. Gerald Belanders cautioned residents, however, to remain careful about drinking the water.

"Kailangan pa rin tayo mag-ingat. Kasi puwede tayong magkaroon ng mga sakit sa tiyan o kaya parasitism. Lalo na kapag umulan, s'yempre bukal pa rin 'yun. Puwede kasi itong mahaluan," he said.

"May mga precautionary measures na gagawin tayo, kailangan nating pakuluan 'yung tubig kasi nakakamatay din ito ng mga mikrobyo."

The residents also said that they only get drinking water from the sea whenever it is low tide, as the water is salty during high tides.

According to Kuya Kim, the saltiness of seawater comes from the ground.

The process begins whenever it is raining. When the rain falls from the atmosphere, it mixes with carbon dioxide and becomes slightly acidic.

Once it falls and flows to the ground, it will erode in the rocks, where it gets salt and other dissolved minerals.

When rainwater mixes with seawater, other minerals are lost, and due to some chemical process, all that is left behind is salt.

Meanwhile, other salt in the sea comes from hydrothermal activity and volcanic activity that occurs under the ocean.

—Carby Basina/MGP, GMA Integrated News