Gyeongbuk Province Conducts Comprehensive Survey of Uranium and Radon in Small-Scale Water Facilities

Targeting 2,300 Village Waterworks and Small-Scale Water Supply Facilities

Reference photo.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Dong-wook] Gyeongsangbuk-do announced on the 1st that since September, it has been conducting a full survey on uranium and radon, natural radioactive substances, targeting small-scale water supply facilities in the province that use groundwater as raw water.

The Gyeongbuk Health and Environment Research Institute conducted a full radon survey of 123 civil defense emergency water supply facilities in the province at the end of last year and issued orders to install radon reduction devices and take improvement measures for facilities exceeding the standard (3 locations). In August, among 26 designated mineral springs in the province, samples were directly collected and analyzed from 24 locations, and one location was detected slightly above the standard (148 Bq/ℓ), with the relevant local government currently taking improvement measures.

This survey is a follow-up measure due to the inclusion of uranium and radon in the inspection items following the revision of the Ministry of Environment's drinking water quality inspection regulations. The survey targets about 2,300 facilities using groundwater as raw water among approximately 2,930 small-scale water supply facilities in the province.

Small-scale water supply facilities include village water supply systems and small-scale water supply facilities that provide water to residents in areas not covered by the local water supply system. Gyeongsangbuk-do has more small-scale water supply facilities compared to other provinces.

The Ministry of Environment warns that long-term consumption of groundwater containing natural radioactive substances exceeding drinking water quality and monitoring standards poses risks: uranium causes chemical toxicity to the kidneys, and radon can induce lung or stomach cancer.

Lee Kyung-ho, Director of the Gyeongsangbuk-do Health and Environment Research Institute, said, "As interest in radioactive substances has recently increased, concerns about uranium and radon, natural radioactive substances present in drinking water, are also growing," adding, "The research institute will do its best to inspect health-hazardous substances such as radon so that residents can drink clean and safe water with peace of mind."

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