Seoul City Issues First Freeze Warning of the Year: "Let Water Drip When Away from Home"

From 6 PM on the 22nd, Level 3 Frozen Pipe Warning

On the 22nd, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it will issue the third level of the water meter 'freeze warning' for the first time this year. The period will be from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. on the 25th, during which a severe cold wave is forecasted with the lowest temperature dropping to minus 14℃.

The freeze warning corresponds to the third level among the four levels of the water meter freeze forecast system: 'Interest - Caution - Warning - Serious.' It is issued when the daily minimum temperature remains below minus 10℃ for two or more consecutive days.

Turning on a small stream of water to prevent water pipes from freezing./Photo by Seoul City

According to Seoul City, from November 15 last year, when the winter freeze prevention period began, until today, a total of 1,827 cases of water meter freezing have occurred in Seoul. During the eight days when the third level freeze prevention measure was issued in December last year, 913 cases, accounting for 50% of the total, occurred.

The city urged that when temperatures remain below minus 10℃ for two or more days, even if the meter box is insulated, there is a high possibility of freezing. Therefore, when going out, residents should keep the tap water running thinly so that water does not accumulate inside the meter and flows continuously.

It was also conveyed that when the daily minimum temperature is between 0℃ and minus 10℃, water should be run for 45 seconds, and when below minus 10℃, for 33 seconds?enough to fill a disposable paper cup once?to effectively prevent freezing.

According to these standards, if water is run for 10 hours, the cost based on household water rates is explained by Seoul City to be less than 300 won per day.

At construction sites, if tap water is not used, freezing can be prevented by closing the water meter valve, disconnecting the pipe joints and the rear of the meter, and then draining the water inside the meter.

If freezing is suspected at each household, such as when the glass part of the water meter is broken or bulging, it can be reported through the water service customer consultation chatbot 'ArisuTalk,' the Seoul Dasan Call Foundation, or the relevant waterworks office.

Han Young-hee, head of the Seoul Arisu Headquarters, stated, "Seoul City is operating a freeze prevention task force to respond quickly to sudden cold waves and to promptly restore frozen water meters." She added, "Freezing can be prevented simply by running water thinly at each household, so we ask for active participation and attention from citizens."