[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Suwon City in Gyeonggi Province has immediately suspended the operation of the water purification plant after small organisms presumed to be larvae were found in the activated carbon filtration layer of the Gwanggyo Water Purification Plant.
The Suwon City Waterworks Office announced on the 13th that following media reports of midge larvae found in the water purification plant in Changwon City, Gyeongnam Province, and in household tap water, it conducted an emergency inspection of its own water treatment facilities starting at 9 a.m. on the 11th, and discovered small organisms presumed to be larvae in the activated carbon filtration layer of the Gwanggyo Water Purification Plant.
The office requested an examination of the small organisms from the National Institute of Biological Resources, which responded that while the photos suggest they are larvae, the actual specimens were damaged and could not be confirmed.
The office explained that the advanced treatment facility where the small organisms presumed to be larvae were found is operated to remove odor-causing substances, but since no odor substances are currently present, stopping its operation does not affect the quality of the tap water.
In response to the discovery of the small organisms presumed to be larvae, Suwon City has decided to form a 'Tap Water Larvae Complaint Task Force' composed of microbiology experts. The task force will visit sites when larvae-related complaints arise, analyze the causes, and explain countermeasures.
A city official urged, "We ask Suwon citizens to use tap water primarily for domestic purposes only for the time being."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
