Jeonbuk-do "Compensation for damage to 'Jeonju manganese tap water', negotiated with water industry"

Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province announced on the 12th, “We will discuss with the Korea Water Resources Corporation (which manages Yongdam Lake water quality) regarding damage to Jeonju City’s manganese tap water.”

Lee Soon-taek, director of the Provincial Environment and Forestry Department, responded as follows during an administrative audit of the Jeollabuk-do Provincial Council on the same day, after being pointed out by Rep. Nam Kwan-woo (Jeonju 8), "Provincial residents who expect safe water and pay public bills should not be made to bear the cost of replacing tap water filters."

Since the beginning of this month, in areas using regional water supply such as Deokjin-gu Eco City, Wanju, Jinan, and Iksan, the water storage rate of Yongdam Dam has fallen to 39% due to a prolonged drought, and due to the 'autumn fall phenomenon' caused by a drop in temperature, a large amount of manganese (Mn) has flowed into the lower layer of the water intake, resulting in discoloration of tap water filters and complaints of earthy odors.

Accordingly, Jeonju City collected samples from six drainage reservoirs (Cheonma, Songcheon, Junghwasan, Hyoja, Palbok, and Seosin) on the 2nd and 3rd and requested a detailed water quality test from the Water Environment Research Center of Chonbuk National University. As a result, it was announced that all 47 items of drinking water quality standards were judged 'compliant'.

Rep. Nam estimated the cost of replacing tap water filters from the date of the complaint to the present at 27 billion won, assuming that 600,000 households in the province would have suffered damage.

Director Lee said, "It is the judgment of the Korea Water Resources Corporation that reviewed the Supreme Court precedent that it is difficult to view this incident (which meets the water quality standards as a result of detailed testing) as a case of falling short of the water quality standards and apply compensation standards," but added, "We will find a way to compensate for the damage related to the cleaning of the drainage basin (where the damage was reported), the cleaning of apartment reservoirs, etc."