Ministry of Environment's Full-Scale Response to Larvae in Tap Water in Seogwipo City, Jeju-do

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The Ministry of Environment has launched an all-out response following the occurrence of larvae in tap water in the Seogwipo area of Jeju.

According to the Yeongsangang River Basin Environmental Office on the 21st, an emergency video conference was held this morning, chaired by Minister of Environment Cho Myung-rae, with the Vice Governor of Jeju Province, the head of the Yeongsangang River Basin Environmental Office, Korea Water Resources Corporation, and others to review measures to block the spread of larvae and the response situation.

On the 19th, a report of larvae occurrence was received from a house in Seogwi-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju Province. Upon inspection of the site, no larvae were found in nearby households or supply system reservoirs other than the household where the complaint originated on the same day.

As additional larvae complaints were raised from the same household, an investigation into the overall larvae occurrence in the supply system was conducted on the 20th. Larvae were found at the Gangjeong Water Purification Plant and the intake source Gangjeong Stream, which supply tap water to Seogwi-dong, and it is presumed that the larvae moved to homes through water pipes.

The Gangjeong Water Purification Plant (facility capacity 25,000 tons/day) operates using a rapid filtration method, and no larvae were found when samples were taken from the filtration basin during an inspection in July.

The Ministry of Environment dispatched a detailed epidemiological investigation team for larvae occurrence, organized and operated by the Korea Water Resources Corporation Yeongsam River Basin Water Supply Support Center, to Jeju Province to actively discuss countermeasures such as investigating the cause of occurrence, preventing spread, and monitoring methods together with Jeju Province.

The epidemiological investigation team will continue activities until the situation is resolved, supporting the investigation of larvae causes, blocking sources of occurrence, and monitoring the supply system.

Additionally, three experts with experience responding to larvae occurrence in Incheon tap water in July have been added, bringing the total number of members in the detailed epidemiological investigation team to 23.

Although only two households have reported larvae occurrence so far, considering the possibility of additional cases, the head of the Yeongsangang River Basin Environmental Office will be immediately dispatched today as the on-site coordination officer to swiftly resolve the issue with full support for early containment of the situation.

Shin Jin-su, Director of the Water Integration Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Environment, stated, “We plan to do our best together with Jeju Province to normalize the tap water as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, Jeju Province has advised that if larvae are found, residents should refrain from direct consumption and immediately report to the Waterworks Headquarters or the Water and Sewage Department.

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