Busan Water Source Mulgeum and Maeri First Algae Alert 'Interest' Issued This Year

[Financial News] Busan City announced on the 29th that the first algae alert 'Interest' stage of the year has been issued for the lower Nakdong River Mulgeum and Maeri points. 
On the 19th and 26th, the algae population at the lower Nakdong River Mulgeum and Maeri points was measured, and the algae population exceeded the algae alert interest stage standard of 1000 per mℓ twice in a row, with 1267 and 5984 per mℓ respectively.
Due to the continued maintenance of environmental conditions conducive to algae proliferation, such as increased water temperature and sunlight, harmful cyanobacteria appear to have increased. Last year, the algae alert interest stage was first issued on June 27, but this year, the issuance date has been moved up by about a month.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration's mid-term forecast, the daytime temperature will be similar to the average temperature (24~28℃) and there is no rain forecast, so the algae population is expected to continue to increase.
With the issuance of the algae alert interest stage, the city will promote measures such as △blocking algae inflow into water intake and purification plants △strengthening monitoring of raw and purified water sources △enhancing purification processes to ensure the supply of safe tap water.
In addition, from July, when algae is expected to proliferate massively, algae removal lines will be deployed at the Mulgeum and Maeri points to respond to algae removal.
The city plans to extend the pilot operation of the algae alert system for recreational areas conducted at Samrak and Hwamyeong Leisure Town since June last year to ensure the safety of citizens' recreational activities until December this year.

bsk730@fnnews.com Kwon Byeong-seok Reporter