Trust in Seoul's tap water reaches record high

Water sprays from a fountain in a park in Seoul in this June 28, 2022, file photo. A new survey revealed on Monday that 75 percent of Seoul citizens now drink the city’s tap water. Newsis

A new survey revealed on Monday that 75 percent of Seoul citizens now drink the city’s tap water, known as Arisu, with more people expressing trust in and satisfaction with its quality.

The annual report by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, drawing on data from 1,000 adults, found that 75 percent now drink Arisu tap water — a record high, up 5.4 percentage points from the previous year.

During Korea’s breakneck industrialization in the 1970s and ’80s, the country’s tap water was widely regarded as unsafe, hobbled by aging pipes, insufficient filtration and unchecked industrial runoff that fouled its rivers. The result was deep public mistrust, and a national habit of boiling water before drinking it, a precaution against the illnesses that many feared lurked in every glass.

The latest findings suggest that Arisu is becoming firmly woven into daily life. Among the respondents, 56.3 percent said they drank tap water at home, while 18.7 percent did so in public spaces such as parks, sports facilities and walking trails.

The results also showed a notable rise in satisfaction, with 79.9 percent expressing overall satisfaction with tap water quality, up from 77.4 percent in 2024.

More specifically, the satisfaction rate with water quality climbed to 82.2 percent from 78.2 percent; the satisfaction rate with using the water for purposes other than drinking (such as cooking and cleaning) rose to 94.2 percent from 93.7 percent.

This April 2022 photo provided by Seoul Metropolitan Government shows the water purification center in eastern Seoul.

Officials attribute the positive trend to the city’s rigorous water quality management. Arisu, drawing from the Han River, undergoes some of the world’s strictest testing standards, with water checked for 350 different substances ― far surpassing both national and World Health Organization requirements. This comprehensive testing includes screening for heavy metals like lead and arsenic, organic matter, disinfectant byproducts, pathogens and other potential contaminants.

Measured by other countries’ standards, the tap water drinking rate is even higher in Seoul. For example, the U.S. defines tap water drinkers as those who report regularly drinking tap water in their daily lives, regardless of the amount, versus those who say they never drink it at all. By that standard, Seoul’s tap water drinking rate stands at 80.8 percent, surpassing the U.S. average of 65 percent.

More than 70 percent of Seoul citizens called Arisu “world-class,” and nearly 80 percent saw it as a civic asset that deserves protection.

Yet the city government acknowledges there is more work to be done. Among those who avoid drinking Arisu, concerns about old residential pipes (cited by 71 percent) and lingering doubts over filtration or safety (44.5 percent) remain obstacles. This highlights the ongoing need for infrastructure improvements. Since 2007, city officials have been actively replacing old pipes ― targeting more than 565,000 households ― in an effort to dispel such worries. So far, 94 percent of the work has been completed.

“This year’s results show that more than seven out of 10 Seoul citizens now consider tap water a daily beverage and trust its quality,” said Lee Hoe-seung, head of Seoul Water, which oversees Arisu. “On the foundation of the new ‘Seoul standard,’ we’ll continue strengthening scientific water quality management, expanding information transparency and enhancing infrastructure, so all citizens can confidently drink tap water, wherever they are.”

Official surveys classify water purifier use as a separate category, though most people ultimately see purified water as tap water in another form. Lingering concerns over the state of municipal pipes have turned purifiers into a staple of Korean households, now present in about half of all homes.

Breaking from the Ministry of Environment’s narrower standard, which measured only at-home consumption, Seoul introduced a new “Seoul-style” metric — one that includes tap water intake both inside and outside the home — after consulting experts, to more accurately capture everyday use.