"Strongest Cold Wave Starting Tonight" ... Seoul City Urges Prevention of Water Meter Freezing

Filling Insulation Material in Meter Box and Allowing Slight Water Flow During Nighttime and Absence

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] As a cold wave advisory is issued across Seoul from 9 PM on the 29th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has declared the water meter 'freeze warning' stage and urged households to check the insulation inside their water meter boxes.

The freeze warning corresponds to the third stage out of four in the freeze forecast system and is issued when the daily minimum temperature remains below -10℃ for two or more consecutive days.

Earlier, from the 15th to the 18th of this month, when temperatures below -10℃ persisted for four days straight in Seoul, about 200 cases of water meter freezing damage were reported.

To prevent water meter freezing, households are advised to fill the inside of the meter box with insulation materials such as old clothes, air caps, or plastic sheets, and to seal it tightly with plastic to prevent cold air from entering. Insulation materials like old clothes that can get damp should be checked regularly and replaced with dry ones.

Also, when not using tap water during nighttime, outings, or travel, leaving the faucet slightly open can effectively prevent freezing.

If the water meter is frozen, do not use open flames such as torches or hairdryers; instead, use a warm towel (50~60℃) to evenly thaw the meter and surrounding pipes.

Regarding anti-freeze heating wires, due to frequent fire accidents caused by overheating, the Seoul Metropolitan Government recommends not using them on water meters or connecting pipes.

If you experience inconvenience in using tap water due to water meter freezing, you can report immediately to the Seoul Dasan Call Foundation (dial 120) or the nearest waterworks office for assistance such as meter replacement.

Baek Ho, head of the Seoul Waterworks Headquarters, said, "Simply leaving the water running slightly can prevent water meter freezing," and added, "Since fires occasionally occur due to overheating or aging of installed heating wires for freeze prevention, please pay attention to safety as well."

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