The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) has verified the safety of Seoul’s tap water Arisu through one of the world’s most extensive testing processes that evaluates 350 criteria items. The city has released the 2022 Arisu Quality Report, which provides detailed information on the test results and made it available to the public online.

The test results have confirmed that Arisu is highly safe for consumption, as it has shown no detectable presence of contaminants in nine categories, including lead, arsenic, cadmium, as well as 17 items such as phenol and benzene. Moreover, essential water quality indicators such as turbidity, pH, and disinfection by-products were found to be within the standards, proving that Arisu is a delicious and high-quality tap water.

Not only that, Arisu is also a healthy choice for drinking water that is rich in minerals. Minerals are essential nutrients that cannot be synthesized in our body and must be obtained from food and water sources, and Arisu’s balanced mineral composition allows it to play a significant role in supplementing the mineral intake.

The water quality inspection process for Arisu begins at its source, the Hangang River. Inspections are conducted at 16 locations along the main river and its tributaries, evaluating 30 specific criteria items. Additionally, five major water sources are subjected to a more extensive testing process that examines 325 criteria items, which is eight times more stringent than the 38 criteria items required by law.

The purified water supplied to the residents of Seoul undergoes a similarly rigorous testing process, evaluating 350 criteria, which surpasses the World Health Organization’s recommendation of 166 categories. Furthermore, the supply process is carefully monitored at a total of 602 locations. This includes 103 reservoirs, 24 locations for each step of the supply process, 450 locations across residential facilities, and comprehensive inspections at 25 locations across city districts.

The 2022 Arisu Quality Report (in Korean) is available to public in the form of an e-book on the Seoul Waterworks Authority website (arisu.seoul.go.kr/c2/sub7.jsp).

In an effort to provide easier access to the water quality information throughout Seoul, the city has installed automatic water quality meters for each administrative district in the city and updates Arisu quality information of 527 locations in real time via the Arisu Map website (arisu.seoul.go.kr/arisumap) and the Arisu app.

In addition, Seoul residents can check the quality of their tap water through the Arisu Quality Check System, which offers free water quality tests and water pipe inspections even during evenings and weekends. To request a test, you can simply call 120 Dasan Call Center. Alternatively, they can contact their local waterworks offices or make an appointment through the Seoul Waterworks Authority website (arisu.seoul.go.kr).