A recent outbreak of algae in Seoul's water reservoirs has sparked public anxiety, prompting many citizens to stock up on bottled water.
The algae blooms have spread well into the upper to middle part of the Han River that runs through the capital city. On Thursday, the Seoul Metropolitan Government issued its first algae advisory in four years for some parts of the river, after two consecutive tests on the water showed excessive concentrations of blue-green microorganisms.
The authorities have advised people to drink tap water only after it has been boiled and cooled.
Such advice has failed to calm public jitters.
"I and my husband used to drink some three big bottles of water in one week, but I bought two extra bottles this week out of fear the running water is ridden with toxic substances," said 31-year-old housewife Kim Jae-yeon. "I began using the bottled water not only for drinking but also for cooking and brushing teeth."
According to E-Mart, the country's leading retailer, sales of bottled water at its outlets nationwide soared 64 percent over the past week on-year, when the country saw the fast spread of the algae phenomenon. That is nearly double the sales increase of 37.1 percent for about three weeks since mid-July when the country began to be gripped by a heat wave.
"The sales of tea bags used for boiling water also jumped 34 percent for the week. Such a huge increase seems to reflect public anxiety over drinking tap water," an E-Mart official said on Friday.
Concerns about water safety have also put a damper on the country's water sports industry.
According to a marine sports training center near the Han River, run by Sea Explores Korea, the recent algae blooms have led to an increased number of cancellations for wind surfing and boat rides.
"We have some 10 to 15 teams per day for leisure programs here, but after the algae troubles, up to 90 percent of reservations have been canceled," a center official said. "We also ask customers who come here for sporting if they feel fine with 'the green water' before going ahead with the program."
To cope with the algae problems and to calm public concern, the Seoul city government vowed Thursday to enhance monitoring of the upper streams of the river, the major source of tap water for the capital's citizens, and water treatment plants to ensure quality.
"There have been one to two cases of complaints against bad odor of tap water, and that is just as usual," city official Kim Byung-ha said. "Arisu is also safe to drink, as we harvest water which is treated with extra care." he said, referring to the city's bottled tap water.
Some experts said purifying water in the plants cannot guarantee its safety under current circumstances.
"No one can make sure about the safety, as the algae blooms could cause problems with filters of the plants," said an activist of the Korean Federation for Environment Movement.
She also warned that the situation "could get worse," blaming the government's four river refurbishment project for the recent algae blooms, as it "has slowed river flows by building dams."
The Lee Myung-bak government has pushed for a large-scale project to refurbish the country's four major rivers aimed at preventing floods and promoting tourism, but it has been at the center of controversy over its possible adverse effects on environment and mounting burdens on state budget, among others. (Yonhap)