Severe Cold Below Freezing Causes Consecutive Burst Pipe Accidents in Seoul Metropolitan Area
134 Cases Reported Nationwide Including Seoul and Gyeonggi
Seoul City has issued the first winter water meter 'freeze warning' this season, and with the severe cold below freezing continuing since last weekend, water meter freeze incidents are occurring one after another.
Severe Cold This Winter Increases Water Meter Freeze Damage in the Seoul Metropolitan Area
On the 18th, as the strongest cold wave continues relentlessly, office workers heavily dressed in thick clothes and scarves are hurrying to work at Gwanghwamun Intersection in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The Korea Meteorological Administration forecasted that the severe cold below freezing will persist throughout this week. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@
The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) announced on the 18th that 134 water meter freeze incidents have occurred nationwide due to continuous heavy snow and cold waves since the 15th.
According to the CDSCH, as of 6 a.m. on that day, the number of water meter freeze incidents by region was 114 in Seoul and 20 in Gyeonggi Province, totaling 134 cases. Among these, 98 cases have been restored. The CDSCH stated, "We will continue to monitor the weather conditions and manage the situation thoroughly."
Earlier, Seoul City issued the first water meter 'freeze warning' of this winter at 9 a.m. on the 17th. The freeze warning corresponds to the third level out of four levels in the freeze forecast system and is issued when the daily minimum temperature remains below minus 10 degrees Celsius for two or more consecutive days. Following the issuance of the freeze warning, a freeze countermeasure situation room will operate 24 hours a day until the 22nd to ensure the prompt restoration of freeze and frost damage.
Water Meter Freeze Prevention Methods... Filling, Running, and Thawing
On the 18th, amid a severe cold wave, an official at the Northern Metropolitan Waterworks Office in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, is organizing frozen water meters. Seoul City has issued the 'Warning' stage for frozen water meters for the first time this winter. The 'Frozen Water Meter Warning' corresponds to the third stage of the four-stage frozen water meter forecast system?'Interest-Caution-Warning-Severe'?and is issued when the daily minimum temperature remains below minus 10 degrees Celsius for two or more consecutive days. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
Freeze occurs when temperatures remain below minus 10 degrees Celsius for two or more days and increases exponentially when temperatures drop below minus 15 degrees Celsius. Accordingly, Seoul City emphasizes the freeze prevention rules of 'Filling, Running, and Thawing.' This means filling the meter box with dry insulation materials such as old clothes or towels, running water continuously if the severe cold lasts more than two days, and thawing frozen meters with a warm wet towel.
Specifically, to prevent water meter freeze, households are advised to cover the outside of the meter box widely with plastic or air cap to seal it tightly and prevent cold air from seeping in.
Also, even if insulation measures are taken on the meter box, freeze is highly likely to occur if temperatures remain below minus 10 degrees Celsius. Therefore, during outings or nighttime when tap water is not used for a long time, water should be run thinly to prevent water from stagnating inside the meter.
The amount of running tap water is also important. When the daily minimum temperature is between 0 degrees and minus 10 degrees Celsius, water should be run for 45 seconds, and when it is between minus 10 degrees and minus 15 degrees Celsius, water should be run for 33 seconds?enough to fill a disposable paper cup?to effectively prevent freeze.
If a water meter freezes, it is prohibited to thaw the water pipe using hot water above 50 degrees Celsius or a hairdryer. Especially, using hot water can damage the meter, so caution is required. In this case, wrap the meter with a warm wet towel or pour warm water at 30 to 40 degrees Celsius slowly around the meter and water pipe to thaw it gradually.
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