Reddish tap water found in Seoul

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, second from left, visits an apartment complex in western Seoul, Friday, after a reddish contamination in tap water was reported. / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

By Kang Seung-woo

Seoul City is advising 1,314 households not to drink tap water, as water has been reported coming out of taps red in southwestern Seoul.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Thursday, about 300 households of an apartment complex in Mullae-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, reported the water contamination the previous day to the Office of Waterworks, which has banned residents from drinking it ― although it can still be used for washing dishes or clothes.

“There is nothing wrong with the tap water that is currently being supplied to the area, but some water, already in a tank, may be contaminated,” an official of the Office of Waterworks said. The city government said it drained the water tank in the complex to clean it.

The city government believes sediment from old supply pipes may have caused the reddish water, but it is now conducting an investigation to analyze the root cause.

The cases came after a “reddish tap water crisis” arose in Incheon late last month, affecting thousands of homes there and sparking health concerns. Earlier this week, the environment ministry announced it resulted from excessive water pressure when changing water supply facilities. Incheon Mayor Park Nam-choon also apologized for the belated response.

In the wake of the reddish water contamination in the capital, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon visited the region just after midnight and instructed the city government to minimize the inconvenience of residents.

“It is a disgrace that a problem arose with the drinking water,” he said, adding that the city government will provide bottles of Arisu for drinking and washing. Arisu is the brand name of Seoul's official tap water.

Promising to analyze the cause as soon as possible and make it publicly transparent, Park also said the city will work to change old water pipes in Mullae-dong and other areas using an emergency budget if necessary.