Gwangju City Implements Emergency Measures for Groundwater Contamination at Hanam and Bonchon Industrial Complexes

Formation of Expert Task Force for Contamination Investigation and Remediation Projects
"Developing Water Quality Improvement Measures... Full Commitment to Protecting Citizens"

Gwangju City Hall exterior view.

On July 16, the Gwangju city government announced that it would implement mid- and short-term measures, including a contamination survey and the establishment of a joint task force (TF) of experts, in response to the detection of hazardous pollutants exceeding standard levels in groundwater at the Hanam and Bonchon industrial complexes.

As an immediate short-term measure, the city urged each district office to carry out administrative actions for groundwater?including water quality inspections, status surveys, contamination investigations, pollution prevention orders, and remediation projects?on domestic, agricultural, and industrial groundwater, in accordance with Article 16 of the Groundwater Act, which designates these as autonomous district responsibilities.

For the mid- and long-term, the city decided to launch an emergency detailed investigation and urgently form and operate a joint task force (TF) of groundwater contamination experts. Through this, the city will develop groundwater monitoring plans and water quality improvement measures.