'A Blessing in Disguise'... Contaminated Water in Hwaseong and Pyeongtaek Rivers Has Not Spread to Groundwater

As efforts to control contaminated water flowing into the stream due to a fire at a hazardous materials storage warehouse in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do continue, it has been confirmed that the pollutants have not spread to the groundwater.

Pyeongtaek City announced that the pollutants leaked from the hazardous materials warehouse in Hwaseong have not spread to contaminate the groundwater of nearby farms. Control work is being carried out in the river where the harmful chemical substances flowed in. [Yonhap News]

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On the 16th, Pyeongtaek City announced that water quality tests conducted on groundwater at 22 locations near the contaminated Gwanri Stream on the 15th showed that the hydrogen ion concentration (pH) was below the standard level, indicating that the stream water pollution had not spread to the nearby groundwater.

The city explained that the test was conducted using a simple inspection method on groundwater used for agricultural purposes at 22 sites within 200 meters of the contaminated Gwanri Stream. The test results showed pH levels ranging from a minimum of 6.39 ppm to a maximum of 8.03 ppm, which is considered safe for continued use as agricultural water. According to regulations on groundwater quality preservation, the pH level must be maintained between 6.0 ppm and 8.5 ppm for agricultural use.

However, the city plans to expand the scope by collecting groundwater samples from 40 farms using agricultural water and requesting detailed water quality tests from the Gyeonggi-do Institute of Health and Environment. Additionally, regular water quality analyses will be conducted until the situation is resolved.

A Pyeongtaek City official stated, "Although the recent tests indicate that contamination has not yet spread to the groundwater, we will keep all possibilities open and continue to conduct groundwater quality tests consistently."

Meanwhile, the fire occurred on the 9th at a hazardous materials storage warehouse located in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do. During the firefighting process, harmful chemicals flowed into the nearby Gwanri Stream, prompting authorities to carry out containment efforts along a 74 km stretch from this stream to the confluence with Jinwi Stream. As of 6 p.m. on the 15th, Pyeongtaek City has treated approximately 4,500 tons of contaminated water from Gwanri Stream.

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