The Iloilo City Health Office (ICHO) has recommended the closure of 21 more water refilling stations to protect consumers against hazards to health.

“The closure of [the refilling stations] is necessary pending requirements prescribed in the Rules and Regulations Implementing the Chapter 11 of P. D. 856,” the ICHO said in its letter to Mayor Jerry Treñas.

According to ICHO’s Dr. Annabelle S. Tang, the 21 refilling stations failed to secure sanitary permits and other necessary documents.

“Most of them are operating secretly, and finally, they were caught,” she said.

These water refilling stations are:

  • Nick Water Refilling Station – Duran Street Sto. Domingo
  • Pipe Water Refilling Station – Infante, Molo
  • Pacific Bay Premium Water – Balabago, Jaro
  • JKL Water Refilling Station – Balantang, Jaro
  • FG Water Refilling Station – Balantang, Jaro
  • Aqua Living Water Refilling Station – Brgy. Caingin, Lapaz
  • Covater Refilling Station – Nonoy, City Proper
  • TJ Water Station – Tabuc Suba, Jaro
  • Metch Water Refilling Station – Tabuc Suba, Jaro
  • Tropics Spring Water – Tabuc Suba, Jaro
  • Elleysa WRS – Baldoza, Lapaz
  • Kriskate WRS – PHHC BLK 22, Mandurriao
  • Water Depot – South Baluarte, Molo
  • BG Nestubig WRS – Zone 3 Baldoza, Lapaz
  • Ann Drops Water Station – Zone 1 Baldoza, Lapaz
  • Richjene WRS – PHHC BLK 22, Mandurriao
  • Hydrachill WRS – Taal St. PH. 5 Alta Tierra Village Quintin Salas, Jaro
  • Bless Mineral Source – Telecom Comp. Quintin Salas, Jaro
  • RYP Water Supply – Zone 6, Buhang, Jaro
  • Dissert WRS – Grand Plains Subd. MV. Hechanova, Jaro
  • PSS Blue WRS – Lot 9, Blk. 5 Asico Subd. Camalig, Jaro

Last week, eight refilling stations were ordered closed by the city government for failing to pass the Water Quality Test.

Data from ICHO showed that 188 or 78 percent of the 241 refilling stations were already inspected and 50 of them, as of Sept. 5, found to be non-compliant.

ICHO also inspected 10,855 wells in the city, of which 541 or 4.98 percent were chlorinated while 50 were condemned.

The city government imposed strict regulation of water refilling stations following the declaration of the acute gastroenteritis (AGE) and cholera outbreak.

They are required to submit water samples every month for potability testing under Executive Order No. 054-2022 issued by Treñas.

As of Sept. 4, the city has recorded 354 cases of AGE and cholera with nine deaths.IMT