Seoul City Activates 'Emergency Water Supply Operation System' by COVID-19 Response Stages

Redundant 'Central Control Room' Established at Each of the 6 Data Centers... Alternative Workforce Pool Also Formed

Gangbuk Arisu Water Purification Center

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Seoul City announced on the 2nd that it is operating an 'Emergency Water Supply Operation System' at six Arisu Water Purification Centers across Seoul to ensure stable production and supply of tap water without interruption, even in the event of a crisis caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

The emergency operation system is prepared in two stages: one assuming some staff at the centers are quarantined due to COVID-19 infection, and the other in case confirmed cases occur.

In the first stage of emergency, work facilities are cleaned and disinfected, and work schedules are adjusted. Currently, 169 workers at the central control room work in four teams on two shifts, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, but this will be adjusted to three teams.

In the second stage, if confirmed cases occur and the central control room is closed, an emergency central control room temporarily established at the six Arisu Water Purification Centers will be operated. If there is a shortage of personnel due to many being quarantined, a substitute workforce pool of 249 people composed of personnel transferred from other institutions and retirees will be deployed.

Since the central control room manages production by predicting real-time water usage, even a brief suspension of operations would cause significant problems in tap water production and supply. Therefore, Seoul City explained that the focus is on uninterrupted operation.

The city also emphasized that it is thoroughly preventing the occurrence and spread of infectious diseases within the purification centers by temporarily suspending the purification center tour program, controlling general public access, and conducting fever checks on facility personnel.

Baek Ho, head of Seoul City's Waterworks Headquarters, said, "The emergency water supply operation system is a preemptive, step-by-step response plan prepared assuming the worst-case scenario. We have duplicated the central control room, the core facility of the purification centers, and prepared substitute workforce supply plans for key personnel, so there will be no problems in the production and supply of tap water under any crisis situation."