Gwangju Environmental Movement Union Holds Forum on 'Improving Trust in Tap Water'

At 2 PM on the 18th at Gwangju NGO Center Community Hall

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The Gwangju Environmental Movement Federation announced on the 17th that it will hold a "Discussion on Improving Trust in Gwangju Tap Water" at 2 p.m. on the 18th at the Gwangju NGO Center Community Hall.

This discussion is hosted by the Gwangju Environmental Movement Federation, the Tap Water Citizens Network, and the Korea Water and Wastewater Works Association, with Song Hyung-il, a member of the Gwangju Metropolitan City Council, serving as the moderator.

The discussion aims to share policies of the Ministry of Environment and Gwangju Metropolitan City for safe tap water and to explore ways for citizens to trust tap water through participation from the city council, civic groups, experts, and citizens.

At the discussion, the Ministry of Environment and the Korea Water Resources Corporation will explain comprehensive measures for tap water safety management and smart water supply management systems, and the Gwangju Metropolitan City Waterworks Headquarters will present policies for safe and tasty Gwangju tap water.

The Gwangju Environmental Movement Federation will present suggestions for improving trust in tap water.

Designated discussants include Lee Young-sook, president of the Gwangju branch of the Women Consumers Union; Shin In-yong, legal committee member of the Gwangju branch of the National Apartment Association; Lee Sung-gi, emeritus professor of environmental engineering at Chosun University; Shin Min-jung, resource circulation instructor; and Jang Jeong-hwa, secretary-general of the Tap Water Citizens Network.

The Ministry of Environment cites aging water facilities, formalistic pipeline management, lack of operational and management capacity of water facilities, poor accident response systems, and insufficient resolution of residents' concerns about water quality as reasons why trust in tap water has not been restored nationwide. Aiming to "provide clear water that all citizens can safely drink," it plans to explain four major strategies?modernization of facilities, advancement of management and operation, systematization of accident response, and public communication?and ten key implementation plans.

Gwangju City will present water quality management plans including source water quality management, transmission and distribution water quality management, and smart pipeline management aimed at ensuring tap water that everyone can safely drink.

A representative of the Gwangju Environmental Movement Federation said, "Although Gwangju tap water is objectively evaluated as having very good quality as drinking water, the direct consumption rate of tap water is not high," adding, "The low direct consumption rate is due to concerns about water quality caused by aging pipes and water tanks, and recurring tap water accidents are also reasons for the continued general distrust of tap water."

They added, "It is necessary to evaluate and judge whether policies to improve the quality and taste of Gwangju tap water meet citizens' understanding and expectations."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.