On-site Inspections by Mayor and Vice Governor
All-out Efforts for Stable Tap Water Supply
Yangsan City in South Gyeongsang Province is accelerating the expansion of its water supply infrastructure in response to the increasingly severe algal bloom issues in the Nakdong River.
The city plans to expand the capacity of the New Town Water Purification Plant, which currently operates at 38,000 tons per day, by an additional 57,000 tons to reach a total of 95,000 tons per day by 2027. Yangsan City is also making every effort, in cooperation with Busan City, to construct a regional water intake facility.
The expansion project for the New Town Water Purification Plant will newly introduce a powdered activated carbon (PAC) treatment process, which was not part of the existing facility. Powdered activated carbon effectively absorbs and removes algal toxins and odor-causing substances during the purification process, significantly enhancing the performance of advanced water treatment facilities.
As a result, despite the worsening algal blooms during the summer, the taste and odor of tap water are expected to improve, enabling the supply of safer and more reassuring drinking water for citizens.
Additionally, Yangsan City and Busan City are jointly promoting the construction of a regional water intake tower to ensure a stable supply of raw water despite algal blooms. Analysis shows that the number of harmful cyanobacteria cells decreases by 30% at 1 meter below the surface, 75% at 8 meters, and over 90% at 10 meters. Upon completion of the regional water intake tower in 2027, it is expected that selective water intake at various depths (1m, 5m, 10m) will greatly reduce the recurring impact of algal blooms during the summer each year.
On September 1, Mayor Na Dongyeon personally visited the New Town Water Purification Plant expansion site to inspect the progress of the construction and review the response system for algal blooms.
Mayor Na stated, "The health and safety of our citizens must always be the top priority under any circumstances," and added, "Alongside the expansion of the purification plant, we will also ensure the smooth progress of the regional water intake facility project in cooperation with Busan City."
Subsequently, on September 4, Kim Myeongju, Vice Governor for Economic Affairs of South Gyeongsang Province, and Kim Sinho, Deputy Mayor of Yangsan City, visited the Nakdong River water intake site to check on the status of algal bloom response efforts and the progress of the regional water intake facility project.
Vice Governor Kim agreed on the necessity of strengthening inter-city and provincial cooperation, not only for the jointly promoted regional water intake facility by Busan City and Yangsan City, but also for establishing long-term, safe, and stable tap water supply measures.
Vice Governor Kim stated, "The province will actively support Yangsan City's efforts to expand the purification plant and construct the regional water intake facility so that these initiatives can earn the trust of residents." He called for thorough tap water management and close cooperation with Busan City, emphasizing that joint efforts by both the city and the province are crucial in responding to future algal blooms.
Water Intake Facility Location Map (Bird's-eye View).
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