Nearly expired donated water to become tap water for Gangneung citizens

Gangneung City is undertaking an unusual initiative to repurpose half a million bottles of donated bottled water that are nearing their expiration date. The water, originally gifted to the city during a drought last year, is now being purified and integrated into the municipal tap water supply.

The process involves opening the 2-liter bottles and pouring the water directly into the sedimentation tanks of the Hongje Water Treatment Plant. This facility treats water from the Obong Reservoir, the city's main water source. While the plant has handled water from various sources during the drought, including fire trucks and civilian water cannons, this is the first time bottled water has been directly added to the treatment process.

Last year's drought saw Gangneung receive approximately 17,000 tons of bottled water from across the country. After distribution to residents and businesses, about 500,000 bottles remained. These were stored in anticipation of future droughts, but with their expiration date approaching, the city faced a dilemma. Instead of discarding the water, Gangneung decided to re-purify it, viewing it as a way to respect the donors' goodwill and provide a continued benefit to the citizens.

The city considered distributing the water to tourists during the summer season but dismissed the idea due to concerns about potential health issues from expired products. Officials emphasized that the water undergoes thorough purification, including sedimentation and filtration, to ensure it is safe for public use. Currently, the Obong Reservoir's water level is stable and above average for this time of year.

“

The water with an approaching expiration date is reused as safe tap water for citizens through sedimentation and filtration processes. We initially stockpiled it in preparation for drought recurrence and planned to discard it after the expiration date, but we decided to reuse it as water for Gangneung citizens in a way that respects the intentions of those who donated it.