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A water refilling station's extra rules come from the DOH and the city health office, not the FDA, which leaves refilling stations to local governments. You need a DOH initial or operational permit, a sanitary permit, and water that meets the 2017 drinking water standards. The thing owners underestimate is the testing: monthly bacteriological tests and physical and chemical analysis every 6 months from a DOH-accredited lab.[1,2,3,5]
Your testing calendar
Morong, Rizal, for example, asks refilling stations to submit monthly bacteriological water tests and physical and chemical water analysis every 6 months, from DOH-accredited laboratories only.[2]
Monthly lab fees add up over a year. Ask two or three accredited labs for their rates before opening, and pick one near enough for samples to arrive fresh.
- Every month: bacteriological test
- Every 6 months: physical and chemical analysis
- Every year: sanitary permit renewal
The order of permits
Bacolod City lists an initial or operational permit from DOH among its sanitary permit requirements for refilling stations. Get the DOH permit first, then file for the sanitary permit.[1]
The sanitary permit is valid until December 31 and renewed every year.[4]
What "no FDA licence" means
FDA Administrative Order 2014-0029 places water refilling stations under local government units, so you do not file for an FDA License to Operate for the station.[5]
You still answer to the 2017 Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water, which name refilling station operators.[3]
Refilling station prep list
- Choose a DOH-accredited lab and ask for its rates
- Have the source water tested before buying equipment
- Apply for the DOH initial or operational permit
- Get health certificates for all staff, plus a 20-hour course certificate if available
- Set monthly and six-month test reminders
- Plan a container washing and sanitizing area
Questions people ask
- Do refilling station staff need training?
- Bacolod asks for health certificates of all employees and to attach a 20-hour certification course if available.
- Does a water vending machine follow the same standards?
- The 2017 drinking water standards name water vending machine operators along with refilling stations.
- Do I need FDA registration for the bottles I fill?
- FDA licensing rules place water refilling stations under local governments, not the FDA.
Sources
Checked 13 November 2026. We link the agency's own page for every requirement. Rules change; confirm with the office before you pay.
- Sanitary and Non-Sanitary (requirements list) · Bacolod City Government
- Requirements for Application of Sanitary Permit · Municipality of Morong, Rizal
- DOH launches Philippine national standards for drinking water of 2017 · PTV News · 14 December 2017
- Implementing Rules and Regulations of Chapter III, Food Establishments, of P.D. No. 856 · Department of Health (text via Supreme Court E-Library) · 29 December 1995
- Administrative Order No. 2014-0029: Rules and Regulations on the Licensing of Food Establishments and Registration of Processed Food, and Other Food Products · Department of Health / FDA (text via FAO FAOLEX) · 8 September 2014
The extra permits, in one table
| Permit or registration | Agency | When it applies | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial/operational permit from DOH[1] | DOH (example list: Bacolod City) | always (Bacolod sanitary permit list) | Not published |
| Monthly bacteriological water test[2] | LGU health office / DOH-accredited lab (example: Morong, Rizal) | always | lab fee (set by the lab) |
| Physical and chemical water analysis every 6 months[2] | LGU health office / DOH-accredited lab (example: Morong, Rizal) | always | lab fee (set by the lab) |
| Comply with Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water 2017 (DOH AO 2017-0010)[3] | DOH | always (water refilling station operators expressly covered) | Not published |
| Employee health certificates (+ 20-hour certification course if available)[1] | LGU health office (example: Bacolod City) | always | Not published |
| Sanitary permit[4] | City/municipal health office (LGU) | LGU sanitary permit | set by city/municipal ordinance (IRR Sec. 3(a)3); no national amount |
Rules and exemptions
What a water refilling station does not need
- FDA licensing (AO 2014-0029) does not cover canteens, restaurants, caterers, water refilling stations or street food; these are under LGUs[5]