On May 4th, the Chungcheongbukdo Provincial Office disclosed information about public facilities drinking water. The 8 places did not pass a water purity examination.
  In Cheongju, 5 places did not pass that examination(Myeongsim Neighborhood Park, Wooam Mountain’s trail, Sacheondong Apartment and mountain fortress trail). In Chungju, 2 places did not pass the examination(Tangeumjae and Daritjae), and just one place did not pass the examination(Jarabawi) in Eumseong. It was confirmed that Cheongju’s water has the worst quality in Chungcheongbukdo.
  The water purity examination was conducted by the Ministry of Environment, and it is enforced four times a year. This examination is important because it checks for viruses, E. coli bacteria and nitrogen oxide, which are harmful to people. If some harmful things are found, it will impose suspension of use, prohibition of use or decommission. The last examination was in February. At that time, in Cheongju, 6 places did not pass the examination, and Chungju was the same. In addition, in Eumseong, 5 places did not pass the examination. In Jeungpyeongun and Danyangun, just one place did not pass the examination in each area. Other places improved their water facilities noticeably, but Cheongju did not. Why can’t Cheongju change? The Wooam Mountain’s trail, which many Cheongju citizens use, had the same result in 2013, and the mountain fortress trail turned out the same result at that time. However, it remains unchanged after 2 years. That means Cheongju did not manage the public facilities drinking water.
  Unlike this, last February, in the case of Chungju’s public drinking water facilities, which had the same number of contaminated public drinking water facilities as Cheongju, the number of public facilities that exceeded the standard decreased from 6 to 2. That is because Chungju did another examination themselves. Nowadays, radioactivity problems are a big issue, so they checked that. They did another examination, so they offer good water to Chungju’s people.
  Cheongju looked passive in February, but nowadays Cheongju is transforming its image. The mountain fortress trail and Myeongsim Neighborhood Park, which are in Cheongju, installed ultraviolet sterilizers, and they did a reexamination. In addition, they couldn’t find any virus or E. coli. There weren’t any infections, so they informed the people about it. Cheongju should continue to put forth a great deal of effort.

By Kim Soo-min
sm36@cbnu.ac.kr