Distrust and Anxiety Remain Unresolved
Calls for Diversification of Water Sources and Other Measures
The Daegu Safety Citizens' Coalition announced on January 21 that it had conducted a "Tap Water Perception and Drinking Status Survey" last December, targeting 720 households across the eight districts and counties of Daegu.
The survey consisted of 12 questions designed to assess citizens' perceptions of tap water, actual drinking practices, and sources of anxiety. To enhance the reliability of the results, the survey was conducted face-to-face with homemakers in each household.
For the survey sample, 50 households each were randomly selected from Jung-gu and Nam-gu, which have smaller populations, 120 from Buk-gu, and 100 households each from the other districts and counties, excluding Gunwi-gun.
The results of this survey clearly demonstrate that structural distrust and anxiety regarding Daegu's tap water among citizens have yet to be resolved.
According to the findings on tap water consumption, 51.5% of households used water purifiers (including filters), 25.5% used bottled water, 19.6% boiled tap water before drinking, and only 3.6% drank tap water directly.
This result starkly illustrates that the majority of Daegu citizens still do not trust tap water as drinking water.
In response to the question about the extent to which tap water is used for drinking, 38.5% answered "not at all," 29% said "less than 25%," 16.3% used it "about half the time," 10.8% used it "more than 75%," and only 5.4% used it "almost entirely."
In the survey on trust in Daegu's tap water, 38.6% responded "average," 23.8% "mostly trust," while 21.5% "do not trust," and 9% "do not trust at all," meaning that responses of "average or below" accounted for about 70% of the total.
Regarding anxiety about tap water, 52.6% reported "feeling it slightly," 21.4% "feeling it considerably," and 11.5% "feeling it very strongly," indicating that over 85% of respondents experience some level of anxiety.
The main reasons for anxiety about tap water (multiple responses allowed) were concerns about aging pipes and water tanks (40.8%), concerns about environmental pollution of the raw water source (Nakdong River) (17.7%), the impact of past tap water incidents (16.9%), and issues with taste or odor (16.2%).
In particular, concerns over aging infrastructure and the safety of water intake sources were confirmed as key causes.
As the most necessary measures to restore trust in tap water, citizens cited replacement of aging pipes and facility improvements (30.3%), securing the safety of the Nakdong River intake source and promptly diversifying water sources (20.9%), transparent disclosure of water quality test results (19.7%), and strengthening the disclosure and explanation of purification processes as well as management of water tanks (11.6% each).
This is a clear message from citizens demanding structural and fundamental improvements, rather than simple publicity or campaigns.
Based on the survey results, the Daegu Safety Citizens' Coalition called for an immediate comprehensive investigation and phased replacement plan for aging water supply pipes and tanks, prompt resolution of the Nakdong River intake source safety issue and rapid implementation of water source diversification measures, transparent disclosure of water quality test results and purification processes in a way that citizens can understand, and the establishment of a constant communication system.
They also demanded responsible administration to ensure that tap water is not just "drinkable" but "trustworthy and safe to drink."
The Daegu Safety Citizens' Coalition strongly urged the Daegu city government not to leave citizens' distrust and anxiety unaddressed any longer, to take the survey results seriously, and to respond with practical and responsible changes.
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