Paju City to File Criminal Charges Against LH and Contractor for Water Act Violations

Turbidity Caused by Unauthorized Valve Operation at LH Construction Site
Paju City Completes Forced Drainage at Nine Locations
City Considers Compensation Claims Against LH and Contractor for Water Supply Act Violations

The tap water turbidity incident in the Unjeong District of Paju, Gyeonggi Province, was confirmed on October 14 to have been caused by unauthorized valve operation at the site by Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH).

Paju City announced that it had implemented emergency response measures regarding the tap water turbidity (foreign substances) leak that occurred around 7 p.m. on October 14 in the areas of Unjeong 4-dong (Yadang-dong, Sangjiseok-dong) and Unjeong 1-dong (Garam Village, Byeolharam Village). The city plans to complete all actions for water quality stabilization by 6 p.m. on October 15.

According to the city, the incident occurred at the construction site for the “City Road No. 1 Expansion Project (Northern Section)” being carried out by LH, when the contractor operated the city-owned emergency water supply valve without prior consultation. This reversed the water flow, causing sediment inside the pipes to mix and resulting in widespread turbidity in the tap water.

Immediately after recognizing the incident, the city conducted forced drainage (ito) operations at nine locations within the affected area and, in collaboration with management offices, sequentially resumed the water supply. Additionally, the city urgently provided 16 emergency water supply vehicles and 131,000 bottles of bottled water to minimize inconvenience for residents.

In the short term, the city is working to stabilize water quality by intensifying pipe cleaning, supporting water tank cleaning, and maintaining emergency water supply. In the mid- to long-term, it plans to prevent recurrence by expanding the installation of smart water quality monitoring systems and automatic drains.

In particular, the city will conduct a detailed investigation of the main water distribution pipes and terminal networks throughout the city, including the Unjeong area, to proactively eliminate potential risks such as residual sediment inside pipes or imbalances in water flow.

The city is currently processing compensation for damages from the recent water quality incident through the local water supply safety insurance. It is closely coordinating with the insurance company to ensure prompt payment of practical compensation, including replacement costs for water purifier and shower filters and medical expenses. The city also plans to actively carry out compensation procedures for households affected by this water quality issue.

Meanwhile, the investigation into the cause of the incident revealed that at the water pipe relocation section being carried out by LH at its own expense, the contractor opened the emergency connection valve without prior consultation with Paju City or Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water). As a result, sediment inside the pipes was stirred up, causing turbid water to spread to nearby areas.

Accordingly, the city has determined that this act constitutes a serious unauthorized operation of water supply facilities in violation of the “Water Supply and Waterworks Installation Act.” The city plans to file a criminal complaint not only against the contractor but also against the commissioning agency (LH) for failing to fulfill its management and supervision duties, and will simultaneously pursue claims for damages based on the principle of liability for the party at fault.

Park Juntae, Director of the Environmental Bureau, stated, “The safety of citizens’ tap water must never be compromised for any reason,” adding, “We will mobilize all administrative capabilities to ensure the supply of clean tap water to citizens as we resolve this incident.” He continued, “We will take strong measures against unauthorized manipulation of water supply facilities and make every effort to prevent recurrence.”

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