Yanggu County Supplies Safer Tap Water with Nation's First CCL Drinking Water Source

Pilot Water Supply Launched in Parts of Yanggu-eup
Full Expansion Planned Across All Areas by Mid-Year

Starting this month, Yanggu County in Gangwon Province has begun supplying tap water sourced from a drinking water reservoir located within the Civilian Control Line (CCL) area in the central part of Yanggu-eup.

A panoramic view of Yanggu County Office. Provided by Yanggu County.

This transition to an integrated water supply system expands the coverage to densely populated areas within Yanggu-eup that had not previously undergone the switch, in addition to regions already receiving integrated tap water. Through this transition, integrated tap water will now be supplied to major residential areas in Yanggu-eup, including Sang 2-ri, Sang 4-ri, Jung 1-ri and 2-ri, and Ha 2-ri and 4-ri.

The Yanggu County integrated water supply system draws raw water from the drinking water reservoir (Bia Dam) located within the CCL, treats it at the Dong-myeon Integrated Water Purification Plant, and then supplies tap water to residents in Yanggu-eup, Guktojeongjungang-myeon, and the Dong-myeon water supply service area.

Until now, Yanggu County has pursued the construction of a drinking water reservoir and the transition to an integrated water supply as long-term projects, aiming to address concerns about potential water quality contamination of the Seocheon River-which served as the water source for Yanggu-eup-and the issue of reduced intake during droughts.

Accordingly, the Dong-myeon Integrated Water Purification Plant was completed in July 2016, the drinking water reservoir within the CCL was finished in July 2021, and water intake from the reservoir began in January 2022, supplying Dong-myeon residents. By August 2024, the transition to the integrated water supply system for the Guktojeongjungang-myeon water supply area was completed.

The current transition to the integrated water supply system in Yanggu-eup follows improvements to the water transmission pipeline system and facility upgrades, and is significant in that it expands the previously limited supply to the densely populated central area of Yanggu-eup. Yanggu County plans to gradually expand the supply area after conducting pilot water supply operations in selected service zones.

Kim Chunho, Head of the Water and Sewerage Department, stated, "The water source for the Yanggu County integrated water supply system is the first drinking water reservoir in the nation to be constructed within the CCL, and with no sources of pollution nearby, its water quality is exceptionally safe. Based on these conditions, we are confident that our tap water is of the highest quality nationwide."

He added, "Starting with some of the most populated areas of Yanggu-eup, we will supply clean and safe integrated tap water to all water supply service areas in Yanggu-eup within the first half of this year."