The Special Investigation Committee on Larvae Identification at Seokdong Water Purification Plant in Jinhae-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam announced the results of their activities. Photo by Ryeong Lee ryeong@
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Se-ryeong] After larvae were discovered at Seokdong Water Purification Plant in Jinhae-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam on the 7th, the city launched a special investigation committee to identify the cause of the larvae outbreak.
So far, the special committee has investigated the larvae outbreak route and cause, examined the raw water condition, water purification process, and overall water quality management system, and concluded its activities on the 28th by presenting improvements and recurrence prevention measures based on problem diagnosis.
On that day, the committee announced, “At Seokdong Water Purification Plant, the measures outlined in the Ministry of Environment’s water larvae outbreak prevention and response plan were not sufficiently implemented, and due to a lack of backwash water discharge facilities, a significant amount of backwash water was being reused.”
As improvement measures, they suggested ▲ ultra-advanced water purification plant facilities with related national funding support ▲ establishment of a water supply network connecting Chilseo, Daesan, and Seokdong water purification plants ▲ organization restructuring to build a water quality management system capable of responding to climate and environmental changes ▲ preparation of regulations for forming a public-private council ▲ and establishment of comprehensive water environment management measures including intake facilities, water quality and sediment management, aquatic ecosystem management, and green algae countermeasures.
Although the results were derived by private experts, academia, civic groups, and city council members gathered together, opinions on the improvement measures appeared to differ somewhat within the special committee.
On that day, the representative of Changwon Water Life Citizens’ Coalition said, “I believe water quality issues are actually more influenced by the raw water than by the inside of the water purification plant,” adding, “It is regrettable that the special committee seemed to focus more on the inside of the water purification plant rather than on the green algae in the raw water of the Nakdong River.”
He emphasized, “The visible larvae appearing in tap water means that even smaller substances are mixed in the water,” and “While improving water purification plant facilities is necessary, I think improving the Nakdong River raw water is more urgent for citizens to truly use water with peace of mind.”
He criticized the Ministry of Environment and Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office, saying, “The larvae’s spawning time is around sunset, but the Ministry of Environment’s focused response was during working hours in the daytime,” and “Larvae inflow was confirmed in the raw water at Bonpo Intake Facility, but since it was outside working hours, the response was weak and actual operation was not carried out.”
He also condemned, “Despite receiving thousands of billions of won in water quality improvement fees over 20 years, the water quality has rather deteriorated.”
He stated that he plans to request the Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office and the Ministry of Environment to prepare countermeasures for water quality improvement and to hold a meeting by visiting the agencies.
A city council member from the Jinhae area said, “Honestly, people in Changwon or Masan tend to be less sensitive,” and “It is necessary to convey related matters in a way that directly touches the skin of Jinhae-gu residents who have been directly affected.”
He added, “I hope that residents will be given at least a three-month discount on water bills and that a public-private committee will be formed and operate until the water purification plant facilities are advanced and the system is reorganized.”
Changwon City stated, “We will actively accept the recommendations prepared based on the investigation conducted by the committee that has been active since the 10th and thoroughly manage tap water so that citizens can feel safe and trust it,” and “We are also in consultation with Gyeongnam Province to advance the water purification plant emergency supply network construction project originally planned for 2030.”
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