Gyeongbuk Province, 25 Water Play Areas Pass Water Quality Tests as 'Suitable'

Water Quality Tests Conducted at 25 Water Recreation Sites (Rivers and Valleys) in the Province

Advisory to Avoid Water Play in Areas Exceeding Water Quality Standards and Completion of Pollution Prevention Measures

Wangpicheon Valley, Uljin, Gyeongbuk. (Not related to the water quality inspection area for water play)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Gwi-yeol] Gyeongbuk Province conducted water quality tests from June to September at 25 locations frequently visited by water recreationists, such as rivers and valleys.

The test item was Escherichia coli (E. coli), with a water quality standard of 500 (colony-forming units/100mL) or more, and a total of 11 or more water quality measurements were performed at each site.

The target areas for water quality testing included 14 cities and counties: Pohang (1 site), Gyeongju (1 site), Gimcheon (3 sites), Andong (1 site), Yeongcheon (1 site), Sangju (1 site), Uiseong (1 site), Cheongsong (4 sites), Yeongdeok (2 sites), Cheongdo (1 site), Goryeong (3 sites), Seongju (3 sites), Chilgok (1 site), and Bonghwa (2 sites).

As a result of the tests, most rivers did not exceed the recommended limits for restricting water play, but some areas temporarily exceeded the standards due to an increase in water recreationists.

The local governments that exceeded the standards identified the causes of pollution to induce water quality improvement and immediately informed users and residents of the pollution levels and precautions through banners and city/county websites.

Choi Young-sook, Director of the Environment and Forestry Resources Bureau of Gyeongbuk Province, stated, “We will continue to conduct water quality inspections in water recreation areas so that residents can enjoy water activities with peace of mind,” and urged, “Visitors should also follow basic rules, such as taking their trash with them, to participate in nature conservation.”