"Have a Cool Sip of Water Before You Go"... Nowon-gu Operates 'Healing Refrigerator' on Walking Trails

Installed at 14 Locations, Operating on Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays from July 29 to August 31
Some Changes in Locations and Hours Reflecting 2023 Resident Satisfaction Survey and Operational Evaluations
All Water Provided in Label-Free Bottles to Reduce Single-Use Plastic Consumption

Nowon-gu, Seoul (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it will start operating the 2024 'Healing Refrigerator' to prevent heat-related illnesses among residents as the monsoon season shows signs of subsiding.

The 'Healing Refrigerator' is Nowon-gu's representative heatwave countermeasure project, first introduced by the district in 2020 and benchmarked by local governments nationwide. It was originally scheduled to operate from July 15, but due to the prolonged monsoon, its effectiveness was compromised, so the operation was postponed.

This year, it will be available at a total of 14 locations along riversides and walking trails frequently visited by residents for 34 days from July 29 to August 31.

Along the riversides, it is installed at a total of 7 locations: ▲Jungnangcheon (4 locations) ▲Danghyeoncheon (2 locations) ▲Uicheon (1 location). Along the walking trails, it is installed at a total of 7 locations: ▲Suraksan Barrier-Free Forest Trail (2 locations) ▲Yeongchuksan Circular Trail (2 locations) ▲Gyeongchun Line Trail (2 locations) ▲Bulamsan Butterfly Garden (1 location). The 'Gyeongchun Line Bulbit Garden,' which had very low bottled water consumption last year, has been excluded from this year's operation sites.

Operating hours vary depending on the installation site, with a maximum schedule from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The hours were adjusted considering operational efficiency and the safety of volunteer disaster prevention members who assist with the Healing Refrigerator operation. In case of rain forecasts, operation is generally suspended, but additional announcements will be made based on comprehensive on-site conditions on the day. Detailed information and locations can be checked on the Nowon-gu Office website and official blog.

Resident An In-hwan (76), who takes a walk along Danghyeoncheon daily, said, "I exercise for my health, but in this kind of heat, even a short walk makes me sweat a lot and feel hot, so I am cautious," adding, "I am grateful that the district office shares cool water like this every summer."

Meanwhile, to reduce waste and promote recycling, approximately 45,000 bottles of water supplied daily are all provided as label-free bottled water (330ml). For the Healing Refrigerator's bottled water-exclusive recycling bins, the supplier collects the bottles several times a day to improve collection and actual recycling rates.

Additionally, as a heatwave countermeasure during summer, the district has been operating the 'Nowon-gu Water Park' since July 19 at the Seoul National University of Science and Technology stadium, covering an area of 9,000㎡. Filled with various water play facilities such as an outdoor swimming pool, lazy river, 100m air slide, and handle boats, the 'Nowon-gu Water Park' operates until August 17 and is free of charge for Nowon-gu residents.

Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, "The Healing Refrigerator is a small effort to protect the health of residents vulnerable to heatwaves, but the satisfaction level is very high," adding, "With forecasts indicating this summer's heatwave will be unusually long and intense, we will do our best to ensure all residents have a healthy and safe summer this year as well."

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