Gwangju City in Gyeonggi Province and K-water (Gwangju Waterworks Branch) announced on October 10 that they will actively implement response measures to swiftly address recent complaints regarding tap water and provide citizens with cleaner and safer water.
The primary suspected cause of the recent tap water complaints is the trace amounts of manganese entering the raw water supply.
An official from the city explained, "Manganese present at the raw water stage is typically removed during the water purification process. However, even minute changes in concentration, water flow, or water pressure can interact with internal suspended matter, potentially causing discoloration in tap water." In response, the city and K-water are taking a multifaceted approach to resolve the issue.
Key measures include a comprehensive inspection and water quality test of apartment complex water tanks (with one unspecified site for Cha-su Apartment) conducted over three days from September 24 to 26. The results were released on the city website. Additionally, flushing operations have been carried out at 122 locations, including fire hydrants and water outlets, to thoroughly remove impurities from the pipelines.
Furthermore, water quality tests are scheduled to be conducted sequentially on all water tanks in apartment complexes where complaints have been reported.
Gwangju City and K-water (Gwangju Waterworks Branch) plan to review insurance processing measures for compensation claims in October, conduct a detailed inspection of the internal pipeline conditions, and then proceed with cleaning projects in order of priority. They also plan to allocate 1 billion won annually for ongoing maintenance and management.
Meanwhile, Gwangju City is currently promoting an advanced water purification project and plans to supply tap water treated with advanced purification processes to areas affected by complaints starting in 2026. The likelihood of similar incidents occurring is expected to decrease significantly in the future, and the foundation for safe tap water supply will be further strengthened.
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