"Strict Water Purification Standards" ... Seoul Tap Water Safe from 'COVID-19' Virus

Gangbuk Arisu Water Purification Center

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Amid growing global concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Seoul City announced on the 23rd that the tap water, which citizens use and drink daily, is safe to drink because viruses are completely removed during the water purification process.

According to research by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the coronavirus is very unlikely to be transmitted through water and is more susceptible to chlorine disinfection than waterborne viruses transmitted through water, making it possible to be completely removed through existing water purification processes.

Currently, Seoul’s tap water is sourced from the Han River, and at each Arisu Water Purification Center, primary treatment is conducted by mixing appropriate chemicals to filter out impurities. Then, it undergoes an advanced purification process consisting of ozone and granular activated carbon (charcoal), followed by the addition of an appropriate amount of chlorine.

The water purification standards for tap water are based on 'Article 28 of the Water Supply Act' and 'Article 18-2 of the Enforcement Rules of the Water Supply Act,' which require maintaining turbidity below 0.3 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Unit, a measure of particle concentration based on light scattering in water) during filtration and a virus inactivation ratio of 1 or higher during disinfection. Seoul City explains that under these conditions, viruses are removed or inactivated (losing infectivity) by more than 99.99%.

In particular, Seoul’s Arisu Water Purification Centers apply much stricter standards than those legally required, maintaining turbidity below 0.1 NTU during filtration and a virus inactivation ratio ranging from 8.9 to 151.6 during disinfection.

At the nationally certified virus testing institution, the 'Seoul Water Institute,' tests for waterborne viruses in raw water and tap water (purified water) from six Arisu Water Purification Centers are conducted every three months, and no cases of virus detection have been reported in the past 10 years.

Baek Ho, head of Seoul City’s Waterworks Headquarters, emphasized, "Seoul’s tap water Arisu is safe and clean from coronavirus as well as waterborne diseases," adding, "We produce tap water that is good to drink anytime and anywhere without boiling."

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