The Incheon Metropolitan Waterworks Headquarters recently advised citizens to boil tap water before drinking due to an increase in odor-causing substances caused by cyanobacteria in the Paldang (Pungnap) raw water, a water source for the Seoul metropolitan area.
According to the Waterworks Headquarters, the odor-causing substances generated in the water source are materials such as geosmin, which are secreted during the metabolic process of algae. When these substances enter the water purification plant, it is difficult to completely remove them through the standard water treatment process alone, which can cause the tap water to have an earthy or moldy smell.
Geosmin is designated as a drinking water quality monitoring item (standard 20ng/L), although it is not a legally regulated water quality parameter. Depending on the individual, even an extremely small amount of about 10ng/L (one ten trillionth) can be detected by smell, but it is harmless to the human body and easily volatilizes when heated.
Gongchon Water Purification Plant Advanced Water Treatment Facility [Photo provided by Incheon City]
Park Jeong-nam, head of the city’s Waterworks Headquarters, stated, "The Bupyeong and Gongchon water purification plants, which have introduced advanced water treatment facilities, are increasing ozone injection, while the Namdong and Susan plants, which operate general water treatment processes, are adding powdered activated carbon to reduce taste and odor-causing substances."
The Waterworks Headquarters is currently installing advanced water treatment facilities at the Susan purification plant to fundamentally resolve taste and odor issues in tap water, with plans to implement these facilities at all purification plants by 2028.
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