Breaking Gwacheon City Conducts Comprehensive Inspections and Strengthens Response to Midge Larvae in Tap Water

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Yu Je-sung] Regarding the discovery of midge larvae in tap water in some areas on the 6th, Gwacheon City announced on the 10th that it has activated an emergency task force immediately after the discovery and is making all-out efforts to minimize citizen inconvenience by conducting comprehensive inspections of water purification facilities and establishing a 24-hour monitoring system.

The city is conducting supply line monitoring for 12 locations (water customers) jointly with the Han River Basin Environmental Office and Korea Water Resources Corporation. Additionally, to determine the cause, the city has requested a detailed epidemiological investigation from the Han River Basin Environmental Office, which is currently underway.

Gwacheon City's Clean Water Business Division is continuously conducting process-by-process monitoring and detailed inspections of water purification facilities following the larvae discovery, and is implementing process improvement measures including shortening the backwashing cycle and operating spraying equipment 24 hours a day. The division is also strengthening recurrence prevention measures by beginning production of microfiltration equipment for water supply and distribution reservoirs.

Additionally, the city continues to supply bottled tap water to minimize citizen inconvenience. As of November 10, the city supplied 70,870 bottles to 35 daycare centers, 5 welfare facilities, 13 schools in the city, 7 community centers, and other locations.

On the 6th, the city held an emergency task force meeting led by Mayor Shin Gye-yong, and jointly with the Han River Basin Environmental Office, Korea Water Resources Corporation, and the Clean Water Business Division, checked on strengthening sanitary management by process and the status of future process improvements, and discussed plans to enhance emergency water supply operations and resident public relations.

Meanwhile, the city is operating an emergency task force 24 hours a day and continuing water quality inspections, complaint response, and emergency water supply support.

The city urged citizens to "immediately report any abnormalities related to tap water to the Clean Water Business Division (02-2150-3150~1)" and requested that they "refrain from drinking tap water and use it for household purposes, or boil it before consumption."

A city official stated, "We will establish a joint response system with relevant agencies and do our utmost to minimize citizen inconvenience by swiftly implementing all measures for early prevention and recurrence prevention."