Hong Taeyong, Mayor of Gimhae on Vacation, Visits Nakdong River to Check Algal Bloom Situation

Hong Tae-yong, Mayor of Gimhae, Gyeongnam (left), inspecting the occurrence of green algae at the Nakdong River water intake source.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] Hong Taeyong, mayor of Gimhae City, Gyeongnam, inspected the occurrence of green algae in the Nakdong River on the afternoon of the 3rd.

During his summer vacation, Mayor Hong visited the water intake facility in Changam area, Saengnim-myeon, the water source of Gimhae City, and thoroughly checked the entire water intake process including the intake tower, sedimentation basin, and bank-filtered water.

Mayor Hong said, “Citizens may be very concerned as the number of cyanobacteria cells, the cause of recent green algae, has been repeatedly increasing and decreasing,” and urged, “Please carefully inspect the production facilities to ensure that citizens do not experience any inconvenience in using clean tap water.”

According to the city, among the five points under the jurisdiction of the Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office’s Algae Warning System?Chilseo, Mulgeum·Maeri, Jinyangho, Sayunho, and Hoeyaho?Chilseo, the closest upstream point to the Changam intake station, was issued a ‘caution’ stage alert on June 30, and the downstream Mulgeum·Maeri point has been under the ‘caution’ stage since June 23.

As of July 28, the city announced that the number of cyanobacteria cells at Chilseo and Mulgeum·Maeri points were 122,369 cells per 1 ml and 91,750 cells per 1 ml, respectively.

In anticipation of a prolonged ‘caution’ stage of the algae warning, since June 20, the city has been mixing 50?55% bank-filtered water, which is unaffected by algae, with surface water from the Nakdong River for intake and supplying it to the water purification plant.

To completely remove algae, coagulants, disinfectants, and advanced water treatment facilities such as ozone and activated carbon are also being utilized.

A city official explained, “Recent analysis of tap water quality showed that geosmin and 2-MIB, substances causing unpleasant earthy odors and mold smells due to algae, as well as microcystin-LR, a type of algal toxin, were not detected at the Samgye and Myeongdong water purification plants.”

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