Geochang-gun, No Issues with Tap Water Larvae Occurrence

Ministry of Environment Joint Larvae Response Special Inspection of Water Purification Plants

The Ministry of Environment is conducting a special inspection of water purification plants in response to joint larva control.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] As a result of a special inspection of water purification plants in Geochang-gun, Gyeongnam, no larvae were found in the tap water.

The county conducted a joint inspection over two days on the 1st and 2nd of this month with the Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office of the Ministry of Environment, Korea Water Resources Corporation, and four local water purification plants (Geochang, Gajo, Wicheon, Ungyang). The inspection included a detailed investigation of larvae in the filters, monitoring the proper operation of larva screens at each water purification process, cleanliness of facilities, and insect-proof installations.

This special inspection was carried out to check the management status of tap water and proactively respond to water quality accidents such as larvae occurrence, following recent daily cases of larvae detected in water purification plants in some local governments due to rising temperatures.

The inspection results confirmed that no larvae were found at all, and the larva screen monitoring at each water purification process, as well as hygiene management of the facilities, were clean and safely operated and managed.

The four local water purification plants jointly inspected differ from those where larvae were found, as they use rapid sand filtration (Geochang and Gajo water purification plants) and submerged membrane filtration (Wicheon and Ungyang water purification plants) methods that do not use activated carbon filters, making the possibility of larvae occurrence extremely low.

Although larvae have never been found so far, the county is currently strengthening visual inspections and microscopic examinations, shortening backwash cycles, and increasing residual chlorine concentration in the purified water in response to the increased possibility of larvae occurrence due to recent temperature rises.

In particular, the joint emergency inspection conducted by Gyeongnam Province on July 19, along with proactive measures and daily larva sample monitoring at each water purification process, is evaluated to have contributed to preventing larvae occurrence.

Lee Jae-hoon, head of the Waterworks Office, said, “We will continue thorough inspections and hygiene management to ensure that not a single larva is found in Geochang-gun’s tap water. We also ask households to receive tap water connected directly rather than using rooftop water tanks whenever possible, and to check the hygiene status of water storage tanks at least once a month and clean them at least twice a year according to relevant regulations.”

Meanwhile, since the first larvae occurrence was confirmed in Incheon in 2020, Geochang-gun has continuously improved facilities to prevent larvae occurrence, including sealed operation of filters, installation of air curtains and insect traps on entrance doors, and reinforcement of fine insect screens on drainage reservoirs.