"No Green Algae or Larvae"... Changwon Special City Ensures Safe Tap Water Production at Water Purification Plant

On the 27th, Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam announced that it has maintained and upgraded the facilities at its water intake and purification plants and has fully prepared its water treatment response system to prevent algal blooms and larvae, in order to supply citizens with safe tap water they can trust.

The Waterworks Office is holding a regular briefing.

Since the algae alert was issued at the Chilseo point of the Nakdong River on June 20, the Chilseo Water Purification Plant has been reducing algae inflow at the water intake using surface disturbance devices, algae barriers, and sprinkler systems, in accordance with its own "Water Treatment Plan for Algae and Larvae Outbreaks."

In addition, the plant has doubled the amount of coagulants used compared to normal operations and has added appropriate amounts of carbon dioxide and polyamine to maximize the efficiency of coagulation and sedimentation treatment.

The Chilseo Water Purification Plant completed the trial operation of the first series of rapid filtration facilities in August, following a total investment of 16 billion KRW for the two-phase rapid filtration facility improvement project, and is now operating normally. The second series of construction is underway, accelerating facility upgrades.

The Seokdong Water Purification Plant has completed the establishment of a response system for small organisms (larvae) by installing double doors, insect screens, air curtains, insect traps, and filter screens.

The plant continues to strengthen chemical and physical barriers, such as replacing filter media and upgrading ozone disinfection facilities, to prevent the outflow of small organisms (Chironomidae larvae). As a result, not a single organism has been detected in the advanced water treatment process to date.

This year, the city is also continuously promoting facility improvement projects to block algal blooms and small organisms, such as overhauling the backwash blower, repairing the coating of the second purification reservoir, and installing ozone gas removal equipment for the activated carbon filter, thereby strengthening water quality management.

Lee Jongdeok, head of the Waterworks Department, stated, "Despite the annual increase in algal blooms and larvae inflow from the Nakdong River, we will do our utmost to produce and supply safe tap water that citizens can trust to drink, through continuous facility maintenance, thorough monitoring, and proactive response and management."