Residents Lined Up for Bottled Water... "Muddy Water Flows from the Faucet"

Turbid Water Emerges Again at Osong Apartment After 4 Months
Measures Such as Fee Reduction Under Review Due to Resident Inconvenience

Residents experienced significant inconvenience as muddy water came out of the tap water in an apartment complex in Cheongju, Chungbuk.

A scene of muddy water coming out of the water supply in an apartment complex located in Osong-eup.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

On the 15th, Cheongju City announced that since around 2 p.m. the previous day, numerous complaints had been received about "muddy water coming out" in apartment complexes around Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju City. About 4,000 households were affected as the water contained dirt not only in drinking water but also in bath water.

The Cheongju City Waterworks Headquarters, which received the reports, discharged the muddy water stored in the apartment's water tanks through fire hydrants and supplied bottled water to residents. Scenes of long lines forming to receive bottled water were also captured.

Apartment residents lined up in a long queue to receive bottled water.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The same apartment complex experienced muddy water from the tap once last December. Accordingly, the city had planned to carry out water pipe cleaning work until the 30th of this month. A Waterworks Headquarters official explained, "Fine sediment in the water pipes floated and caused muddy water to enter homes last December," adding, "It appears that the fine sediment resurfaced due to increased water usage as the weather got warmer."

The Waterworks Headquarters stated that they will drain all the water from the apartment's water tanks, perform cleaning work, and then refill them with clear water. The investigation into the cause is expected to take place afterward. Measures such as fee reductions due to the inconvenience are also reportedly being considered.