The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission Requests Actual Condition Surveys from 17 Local Governments
It has been confirmed that 502 corrosion inhibition devices without certification under the 'Waterworks Act' have been installed in water supply pipes by 48 local governments nationwide since September 2016.
Jeong Seung-yoon, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission. [Photo by Jo Yong-jun]
On the 28th, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission requested a fact-finding investigation into the installation status of uncertified corrosion inhibition devices in water supply pipes by 17 metropolitan local governments nationwide last May, and referred the case to the police for investigation of companies manufacturing and selling the devices. As a result, it was found that one metropolitan local government and 47 basic local governments installed approximately 50.2 billion KRW worth of uncertified corrosion inhibition devices in water supply pipes from September 2016 to the present. Among the local governments, Gyeongsangbuk-do had the highest number with 270 devices, followed by Gyeonggi-do (112 devices) and Gyeongsangnam-do (57 devices).
In December last year, the police sent three manufacturers and sellers of uncertified corrosion inhibition devices to the prosecution for violating the Waterworks Act. The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission shared the results of the fact-finding investigation with the Ministry of Environment to ensure thorough management and supervision and to prepare follow-up measures to prevent the installation of uncertified corrosion inhibition devices in water supply pipes.
Earlier, in February last year, two reports of corruption were received stating that "local governments wasted budgets by installing expensive uncertified corrosion inhibition devices with unverified performance in water supply pipes." Corrosion inhibition devices must be products certified with 'CP (Conformity of Products) certification for water supply materials and products' by the Korea Water Technology Certification Institute. However, it was confirmed that since September 2016, there have been no corrosion inhibition devices on the market certified with CP by the government.
Jung Seung-yoon, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, said, "To ensure that citizens can safely drink tap water, only products certified and performance-verified by the government should be installed in water supply pipes," and added, "The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission will continue to take the lead in eradicating corrupt practices that threaten the safe lives of the people."
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