Larvae in tap water
Government should calm public fears about tainted water
An increasing number of insect larvae have been reported in tap water in various regions over the past week. Since the first case was reported in the western port city of Incheon, July 9, similar reports have been filed in Seoul, Busan and Gyeonggi Province, which surrounds the capital.
Unlike in the past, when the contamination of tap water concentrated in specific areas for a short period, the latest findings have been occurring in several regions simultaneously. Because the affected areas belong to separate water systems with different reservoirs and purification plants, it is difficult to pinpoint the cause of contamination. Now people not only distrust the water they use at home but worry that it is potentially a serious health problem.
In Incheon, about 50 kilometers west of Seoul, insect larvae were found at some water purifying plants and reservoirs, allowing officials to narrow the cause. Considering that more than 160 complaints were lodged in the city, it is beyond dispute that the local water authorities have failed to manage filtration plants and reservoirs appropriately.
Aside from Incheon, 25 reports of larvae in tap water had been received as of Monday. Although the number of complaints is smaller than in the port city, the unprecedented number itself is problematic. Larvae were not found in the water purifying plants and reservoirs of other regions. Either the local water officials have failed to find them yet, or the larvae might have come from the storage tanks at apartment complexes. Officials should thoroughly investigate distributing reservoirs and filtration plants, and identify the root causes.
Experts are cautiously raising the possibility of these incidents occurring in the course of advanced water treatment. They noted that all the areas where complaints have been filed have advanced water treatment facilities. The tertiary treatment plants upgrade the quality of tap water but are prone to create an environment suitable for the proliferation of organisms unless cleansed thoroughly.
Even excellent facilities could threaten public safety if they are managed loosely. Water officials ought to remember that the public has less trust in those who supply the tap water than the water itself.