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2025 Vol.37, Issue 2 Preview Page

Research Article

Safety of Public Tap Water and Influencing Factors of Spatio-temporal Variability of Water Quality in Coastal Islands: Recommendations for Efficient Raw Water Management in Fisheries and Food-related Industries
Jong Myong Park1
,
Da-Sol Kwon1
,
A Hyun Lee1
,
Ji-Hyeung Kim2
,
Hwa-Jung Nam2*
1Researcher, Water Quality Research Institute, Waterworks Headquarters, Incheon 21316, Korea
2Research officer, Water Quality Research Institute, Waterworks Headquarters, Incheon 21316, Korea
*Corresponding Author
30 June 2025. pp. 86-112
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Abstract

This study investigated the safety of public drinking water distributed to coastal islands and its spatial, seasonal, and annual quality variability as an industrial resource, and to derive its influencing factors to provide indicators for differentiated industrial water management practices. Tap water supplied to coastal islands (Yeongheung and Seonjae Islands) on the west coast of Korea was analyzed for 24 legal quality items over a five-year period. All of them remained safe within the standards. In the case of metals, the maximum level of zinc was 0.016 mg/L (0.5% of the standard), copper/iron 0.049 mg/L (4.9%), and aluminum 0.2 mg/L (20.0%); and for disinfection by-products (DBPs), THMs 0.055 mg/L (54.7%), chloroform 0.037 mg/L (45.8%), chloral hydrate 0.009 mg/L (28.7%). When comparing the water quality between islands with the water purification plant, changes in metals and DBPs were observed as the geographical distance of the regional water supply chain increased. Furthermore, seasonal factors that cause changes in the floating population sizes in coastal regions and social factors (e.g., COVID-19/social distancing) have been found to cause changes in the metal or DBP level because these factors cause water usage in coastal tourist cities. Furthermore, as tap water is an essential resource for coastal industries (e.g., food/beverage services or fishery industries affiliation), this study discussed how the tap water quality variation and its influencing factors, which are different from inland sources, can influence the industry type. Guidelines or standards for raw industrial water management (e.g., GMP) that are differentiated from inland workplaces are suggested to be established based on water quality variability and its influencing factors, especially on food facilities/equipment, which influence consumers’ sensory quality and efficacy of cleaning/disinfection of manufacturing facilities. Administrative efforts are concentrated on balanced regional development in coastal islands, and regional industries are developing accordingly. This study could help manage raw water, an important factor for the quality of products from these industries.

Keywords
Drinking water distribution system (DWDS)
Environmental analysis
Food and beverage industry
Industrial water
Ocean and fisheries industry
Water quality
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Information
  • Publisher :Agriculture and Life Sciences Research Institute, Kangwon National University
  • Publisher(Ko) :None
  • Journal Title :Journal of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences
  • Volume : 37
  • No :2
  • Pages :86-112
  • Received Date : 2025-04-15
  • Revised Date : 2025-05-05
  • Accepted Date : 2025-05-09
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.22698/jales.20250008
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