Seoul City Strengthens Water Tank Hygiene Management... Inspects Compliance with Building Sanitation Measures

This Year, Inspections Conducted on Building 2057 and Complex: Sanitation Status, Installation of Insect Screens and Locks, and Compliance with Water Quality Testing

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Waterworks Authority announced on the 18th that it will strengthen hygiene management activities for water supply facilities (water tanks) within buildings to prevent inconvenience in tap water use caused by poor hygiene management of water tanks in apartments and other buildings.

This year, Seoul will conduct on-site inspections of 2,057 buildings and complexes. Among the inspection targets, large water tanks include 1,862 buildings and complexes (1,569 apartment complexes and 293 general buildings), and small water tanks number 195 buildings. Based on whether cleaning was conducted in the second half of last year, the authority plans to focus on managing places vulnerable to hygiene, such as those where the cleaning period has elapsed or where there is no person responsible for management.

The main inspection items include: hygiene and cleanliness status inside and outside the water tanks; installation of insect screens and locking devices on overflow pipes and ventilation pipes; and compliance with hygiene measures such as water tank cleaning and water quality testing. Minor issues will be immediately guided for correction on-site, and in cases of violations of hygiene regulations, administrative actions such as fines or penalties will be informed to encourage active hygiene management by the responsible parties.

Additionally, the Waterworks Authority reported that as a result of the hygiene management status inspection of water tanks in 2,254 buildings and complexes across Seoul last year, 1,964 buildings and complexes (87%) were in good management condition, but 290 buildings and complexes were pointed out for poor hygiene management.

Baek Ho, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Waterworks Authority, said, “Changes caused by the climate crisis, such as rising water temperatures due to abnormal heat, are also affecting tap water. Seoul is strengthening facility inspections and operational management of water purification centers on its own, and will also sincerely guide and supervise individual water supply points to thoroughly manage hygiene of water tanks within buildings.”

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