Incheon 'Tap Water Larvae' Incident Stabilizes... Daily Life and School Meals Resume Normally

No Larvae Found in Water Supply Systems Including Water Purification Plants and Reservoirs
Continuous Discharge from Gongchon and Bupyeong Water Supply Pipelines... Individual Compensation for Larvae Damage to Consumers

Larvae-blocking insect screen installed at Bupyeong Water Purification Plant
Photo by Incheon City

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] As the 'tap water larvae' incident in Incheon enters a stable phase, normal school meals will resume from August.

Incheon City announced on the 1st that the tap water supplied from Gongchon and Bupyeong water purification plants has reached a stabilization stage sufficient for the resumption of school meals and daily life.

According to the city, no larvae have been found since the 22nd of last month in all supply pipelines, including the Gongchon and Bupyeong water purification plant reservoirs, 14 distribution reservoirs, and 225 fire hydrants connected to households.

Monitoring of 23 direct water pipes at water meters of consumers also showed that no larvae have appeared in the Gongchon water system since the 15th of last month, and no larvae were found in the Bupyeong water system where monitoring began on the 26th of last month.

Additionally, since the 24th of last month, all reported larvae samples have been sent to the National Institute of Biological Resources for inspection. Only three cases were confirmed as chironomid larvae, and none have been found since the 28th. The city explained that even the recently confirmed chironomid larvae cases were reported more than a week after discovery.

Accordingly, considering that schools have water purification facilities, the city has guided educational institutions to resume meals from August. Forty-two kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools in Seo-gu, Bupyeong-gu, and Gyeyang-gu, where tap water meals were suspended since last month, are also expected to resume normal meals this month.

However, to prevent waterborne infectious diseases during the summer, the city urged thorough hygiene management such as cleaning water storage tanks at consumers' sites, recommended boiling water before drinking whenever possible, and advised flushing tap water sufficiently before use if the house has been vacant.

The city is blocking larvae from flowing out of purification facilities by cleaning reservoirs and distribution reservoirs, installing insect screens, and switching to standard treatment processes, and is continuously flushing 343 pipelines in the Gongchon and Bupyeong water systems to eliminate any remaining larvae.

Furthermore, once government measures reflecting the joint expert investigation team's results are established, the city plans to take actions such as improving hygiene management at purification plants and reinforcing facilities and specialized personnel. Compensation will also be provided individually to consumers who suffered damages due to larvae discovery.

An Incheon city official stated, "Although the tap water has reached a stabilization stage sufficient for resuming school meals and daily life, we will continue monitoring and closely observe the situation for the time being," adding, "We will also strive to thoroughly identify the causes of the tap water larvae incident and introduce a scientific water management system to prevent recurrence."

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