Why Did Kim In-ho, Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, Make an Emergency On-Site Visit to Ttukdo Arisu Water Purification Center?

On the 21st, the Seoul Metropolitan Council Chairpersons and Standing Committee Heads Urge Seoul Citizens to Drink Clean and Safe Arisu

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] On the morning of the 21st, Kim In-ho, Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, along with the chairpersons and standing committee chairpersons, made an emergency site visit to the Ttukdo Arisu Water Purification Center regarding complaints about larvae in Seoul tap water.

The visit focused mainly on the central control room, which manages all water purification facilities, and the activated carbon adsorption site (which improves the taste of the water).

The water purification process involves passing through standard purification facilities (intake station → sedimentation basin → coagulation basin → sedimentation basin → filtration basin), then through advanced purification facilities (ozone sterilization → activated carbon adsorption site), followed by transportation through water transmission facilities (clean water reservoir → transmission pump room → distribution reservoir), and finally supplying water to households.

At the central control room that day, Seo Dae-hoon, Production Manager of the Seoul Waterworks Headquarters, reported on the current status and response to the larvae discovery in Jung-gu during a field briefing.

First, regarding the complaint on the 19th about larvae found on the bathroom floor of an officetel in Jung-gu, Seoul, it was explained that microscopic observation of water samples collected by the Seoul Water Research Institute at 4 p.m. on the 20th found no foreign substances or larvae in the tap water.

In this regard, the activated carbon adsorption sites at the six purification centers in Seoul are managed with structures that prevent insect intrusion. It was also confirmed that there were no abnormalities from both internal inspections and joint inspections conducted with the Ministry of Environment on the 16th and 17th.

Additionally, the Ministry of Environment, which conducted inspections at the same time, also evaluated that the six purification centers in Seoul are well managed.

While inspecting the Arisu Water Purification Center, Chairman Kim In-ho stated, “Since this is a time when citizens’ interest in hygiene and disease management is higher than ever due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to keep in mind that even minor issues can amplify citizens’ anxiety. Therefore, I hope thorough inspections and preparations will be made.”

He also added, “Shortening the replacement period of the activated carbon adsorption site slightly compared to before could be one way to ensure safer water quality,” and urged, “I hope Baek Ho, Head of the Seoul Waterworks Headquarters, Gu Ami, Deputy Head, Seo Dae-hoon, Production Manager, Kim Jung-young, Center Director of Ttukdo Arisu Water Purification Center, and all related officials will continue to strive to supply cleaner Arisu through various methods.”

Present at the site visit were Kim Jeong-tae, Chairperson of the Operations Committee; Chae In-mook, Chairperson of the Planning and Economy Committee; Lee Young-sil, Chairperson of the Health and Welfare Committee; and Kim Hee-geol, Chairperson of the Urban Planning and Management Committee.

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