Wonju City Refutes "Water Source Contamination" Claims... All 59 Indicators Deemed Safe

Wonju City Strengthens Water Source Protection and Quality Monitoring

Wonju City in Gangwon Province has made it clear that recent claims circulating in some circles-alleging that the city’s water source is contaminated, that residents are being supplied with poor-quality water, and that water rates are excessively high-are distorted and factually incorrect.

Water source. Provided by Wonju City

The Wonju Water Purification Plant rigorously inspects a total of 59 water quality standards from intake to supply, and has consistently provided safe tap water that meets 100% of all these standards to date.

The water source (raw water) is also subject to continuous monitoring and management in accordance with the standards set by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment. Systematic water quality checks are conducted through monthly, quarterly, and annual regular inspections. All test results are made publicly available on the city’s website so that any resident can review them at any time.

Additionally, Wonju City continues to implement measures to block the inflow of pollutants into the water source protection zone, including crackdowns on illegal activities, projects to block sources of pollution in rivers and tributaries, and ongoing monitoring. These efforts help maintain a water supply system that residents can trust and safely use.

Furthermore, Wonju City’s water rate realization ratio (the rate compared to actual costs) is similar to the national average. This rate covers essential expenses for stable water supply, facility modernization, maintenance of aging pipelines, and securing raw water, all of which are necessary to ensure residents’ safety.

In particular, the recent climate crisis situations seen in places like Gangneung are not exceptions for Wonju. The city is taking proactive measures to ensure a stable water supply, such as diversifying water intake sources, to address the increasing risk of drought.

Nam Kieun, Director of the Water and Sewage Works Office, stated, “We are doing our utmost to protect the water source and manage water quality in order to safeguard the health and safety of our citizens,” adding, “We will continue to provide accurate information to prevent confusion among residents caused by misinformation.”