Yeonsu-gu District (Mayor Lee Jae-ho) has moved to review its capacity to respond to water pollution accidents on the Seunggicheon, an urban stream, ahead of the full onset of the rainy season. On the 23rd, the district carried out a “joint city-district spill response drill” together with Incheon City in the area around the Seunggicheon. About 20 people, including officials from Incheon City Hall and Yeonsu-gu and members of a civilian environmental monitoring group, took part in the drill that day.
 [The Korean Today] Yeonsu-gu and Incheon City joint spill response drill for Seunggicheon water pollution accidents © Reporter Kim Mi-hee |
The drill was prepared to anticipate in advance the kind of water pollution accident that could occur during periods of heavy summer rainfall, and to enhance each agency’s response capabilities so that damage can be minimized when an actual accident occurs. The aim is to provide residents with a clean and safe stream environment.
The drill was conducted using a specifically defined simulated accident scenario. It assumed that a tank truck had overturned near Yeonsu Bridge, leaking 500 liters of diesel, and that the spilled oil had flowed into the stream, killing fish. To strengthen their initial response capabilities, participants carried out step-by-step measures as if dealing with a real accident.
The response procedure began with prompt reporting and dissemination of the situation immediately after the accident. A water pollution accident containment and recovery team was then urgently deployed, followed in sequence by oil removal work, including the installation of oil booms, and a water quality survey to determine the extent of the contamination’s spread. The district placed the emphasis of the drill on instilling the rapid initial response that matters most in a real situation and on the division of roles among the participating agencies.
The Seunggicheon is an urban stream that runs through the daily living area of Yeonsu-gu residents, and during periods of heavy rainfall it can be exposed to unexpected situations such as vehicle accidents or the inflow of pollutants. This joint drill served as an occasion to review the routine preparedness system, in that Incheon City, the basic local government and civilian monitoring personnel coordinated their efforts in one place.
A Yeonsu-gu official said, “Through thorough preparation for water pollution accidents on the Seunggicheon, we will work even harder to protect a clean and pristine Seunggicheon environment.”
[ Reporter Kim Mi-hee: incheonsouth@thekoreantoday.com ]
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