‘Arisu Quality Verification System’ allows citizen to request inspecting agents to visit their houses to verify water quality in their faucets. The system helps people to build trust in the water they are drinking and creates employment opportunities as inspecting agents. In 2008, Seoul adopted such service for the first time in the country. Since then until 2017, 4.98 million households benefited from the service. With the service, households can get free water quality assessment on 5 indicators (turbidity, pH, iron, copper, residual chlorine), in addition to taste and smell. In 2017, 320,000 households had their water faucets inspected, of which 6.68 million houses that were found to be in need of improvement received proper support. Assistance measures include old pipe improvements (630 cases), measures to save water (27 cases), water tank cleaning and water level control service (11 cases) and etc. As such, we provided support to upgrade water supply environment and provide tasty and clean tap water. Starting this year, we have begun to conduct night-time water quality tests for families who are not able to conduct them during the day.

Every year, 300,000 households with low income and those whose tap water quality does not meet the basic guidelines receive free water quality inspection service.

Five basic indicators of tap water safety -- turbidity, ion density, iron, copper, and chlorine residue -- are examined to determine potability.

     - In case the test results are not satisfactory, 7 additional items such as bacteria and colon bacterium are tested.

Citizens (non-public servants) are hired as inspecting agents who visit the inquiring houses.

There was general public mistrust, mostly unfounded, on the quality of tap water, and many were uncomfortable drinking it. To address this issue, we decided to carry out the ‘Arisu Water Quality Verification System’ which allows citizens to check and evaluate the quality of tap water in their own homes.

From 2001, we dispatched officials to conduct free water quality checks to 50,000 households every year that signed up to have their tap water tested. In 2008, in a bid to improve the public perception of Arisu, we took a step further and implemented the plan to have all 2.6 million households in Seoul undergo free water quality checks by 2010. From 2011, we have been expanding the service to 300,000 specially-chosen households, mostly day-care centers, schools, low-income families.

Every year, 300,000 households with low income, and the ones who tap water quality does not meet the basic guidelines receive free water quality inspection service.

With the introduction of the service in 2017 alone 320,000 households underwent free water quality checks. Of those, 668 households were found to have poor quality tap water, and they received assistance to improve worn-out pipelines in their houses (630 cases), implement measures to save water (27 cases), clean water tanks and water level controls (11 cases). From 2018, the inspection criteria expanded to include night-time quality tests for families who are not able to conduct them in the day.

 

5 basic indicators of tap water safety, namely turbidity, ion density, iron, copper, and chlorine residue, are examined to determine potability.

Inspecting agents visit houses to check 5 indicators, namely turbidity, pH, residual chorine, copper, iron and explain the results clearly. When the quality passes the level, a ‘certificate’ is given; when found to have poor quality, a sample is taken for further testings for 7 additional indications, namely bacteria, coliform group, colon bacteria, ammonia nitrogen, zinc, manganese, and chlorine ion. As such, we continue to take actions so our citizen’s water quality reaches the permissible level.

 

Citizens (non-public servants) are hired as inspecting agents who visit the inquiring houses.

Citizens themselves participate in the program as inspecting agents who visit to check the tap water faucets. The engagement enhances public trust in tap water and also creates jobs.

 •Citizens are hired as inspecting agents, trained on how to check water quality, how to handle civil complaints, how to deliver quality service. After the training, they are dispatched to houses who inquire the service.

 • Quality check is done with agents and users together. When found poor, the quality is continuously checked until it passes the level.

      ‣ 1st testing: turbidity, ion density, copper, iron, residual chlorine

      ‣ 2nd testing: bacteria, coliform group, colon bacteria, ammonia nitrogen, zinc, manganese, and chlorine ion

Number of Inspecting Agents Hired by District (in 2014) : 160 persons total (includes 3 people with disability)

First of all, the inspecting agents need proper training such as how to use quality measuring device, provide excellent service as well as basic knowledge on water treatment process and tap water in general. Secondly, there is a need to purchase water quality measuring devices that the agents will carry with them to visit houses so they can check the 5 indicators.

 • 50,000 households per year that sign up received free water quality check

 • free water quality check to 4.98 million households



  Measures Taken To Improve Water Quality (2008~2017)

The ‘Arisu Water Quality Verification System’ was first adopted in Seoul and is now being benchmarked by other municipalities such as Gwangju and Incheon. In 2014, the Ministry of Environment benchmarked this program and has been adopting a similar service named ‘Tap Water Quality Check’ program in all municipalities.