Kanlaon ashfall pollutes village’s water source

BACOLOD CITY , Philippines —  The ashfall caused by the moderate explosive eruption of Kanlaon Volcano has contaminated a spring that serves as one of the water sources in Bago City, Negros Occidental, according to the city disaster risk reduction and management office.

The pollution affected 5,833 residents of Barangay Mailum, according to Bago disaster officer Merijene Ortizo. She said the city government conducted water rationing, delivering 20,000 liters of potable water to 1,492 households on Oct. 25 and 26 as well as yesterday.

Ortizo said they are still waiting for the result of the laboratory analysis conducted on the Mailum Spring to determine if the water is safe for human consumption.

Among the villages that experienced ashfall or sulfur stench following the eruption of Kanlaon last Friday were Abuanan, Bacong, Dulao, Ilijan, Ma-ao and Tabunan in Bago City as well as Punta Taytay in Bacolod, Araal in La Carlota, Cabagna-an in La Castellana, Minoyan in Murcia, Zamora in Pontevedra and Codcod in San Carlos City.

In Negros Oriental, the villages of Linuthangan and Lumapao in Canlaon City also experienced ashfall and sulfur stench.

The Kanlaon eruption was the fifth since June 3 last year, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.