The Environmental Management Bureau in Central Visayas (EMB 7) has warned that groundwater and other water sources exposed to volcanic ashfall from the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon should not be used for drinking. Air Quality Monitoring Expert Arthur Niño Calupig stated that filtering out visible ash particles is insufficient to ensure safety, as volcanic ash contains sulfur and other minerals or chemicals that can contaminate water sources and cause irritation or health concerns.
Immediate Health Advisory
“Once mahaluan yung ating mga groundwater sources used for drinking so talagang hindi po advisable na i-consume,” Calupig said during an online press conference on Thursday, July 9, 2026. The advisory follows ashfall from Mt. Kanlaon reaching parts of Cebu after the volcano's eruption.
Proper Ash Disposal Guidelines
Meanwhile, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) advised the public against hosing down heavy volcanic ashfall. Phivolcs Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division head Mariton Antonia Bornas recommended sweeping and collecting the ash properly, as washing it away could clog drainage systems.
Potential Reuse of Volcanic Ash
Bornas added that collected volcanic ash may be stored and considered for reuse, such as in construction materials or agricultural soil, since volcanic ash contains minerals that may provide beneficial properties for certain uses.
