Nakdonggang River Basin Environmental Office, 13 Years of Continuing Love Sharing for the Underprivileged

Free Groundwater Quality Testing for Social Welfare Facilities in Busan and Gyeongnam

The Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office will conduct free groundwater quality tests for social welfare facilities in the Busan and Gyeongnam areas to improve the quality of life for marginalized groups and promote a culture of sharing love.

Starting in 2011 with 12 child welfare facilities, the program has expanded to cover a wide range of social welfare facilities including those for the elderly, children, disabled persons, homeless individuals, and psychiatric care centers. This year marks the 13th consecutive year of providing free groundwater quality testing.

This free water quality testing is conducted jointly by the Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office and eight drinking water quality testing institutions. Testing is planned to begin in mid-March for 81 social welfare facilities within the jurisdiction that use groundwater and have requested testing.

Status of Groundwater Use Applications for Social Welfare Facilities. [Image provided by Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office]

The participating drinking water quality testing institutions include Korea Water Resources Corporation Busan·Ulsan·Gyeongnam Regional Cooperation Group, Dongjin Life Science Institute, Green Environment Research Institute, Sangnok Enviro, Entek Analysis Institute, Woori Life Science Institute, Dong-Eui University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation Dong-Eui Analysis Center, and Ulsan College Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation Comprehensive Environmental Analysis Center, totaling eight institutions.

The Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office and the participating drinking water quality testing institutions will visit 81 social welfare facilities (91 wells) using groundwater within the jurisdiction to check groundwater usage status. After sample collection and analysis, if any parameters exceed standards for drinking water, the relevant social welfare facility and the local government will be immediately notified to promptly guide suspension of drinking, well cleaning, disinfection, and other necessary actions.

The groundwater quality test items include 47 parameters for drinking water and 20 parameters for domestic water. Through this free water quality testing, it is expected that approximately 20.54 million KRW in groundwater quality testing costs borne by marginalized and vulnerable groups will be saved.

Director Hong Dong-gon stated, “As social interest and demand for the safety of drinking water increase, we will continue to conduct free groundwater quality testing for social welfare facilities to improve water welfare for socially vulnerable groups and do our best to promote a culture of sharing love.”