On the 2nd, officials from Ansan City conducted a containment operation at Ansancheon, an upstream area of Sihwa Lake in Ansan, where pollutants had been introduced. This was reported by Ansan City.
The pollutants, which were discharged in large quantities with a foul odor into the stream connected to the upstream area of Sihwa Lake near Suam-dong, Ansan, were identified as water-based paint that had been kept in a residential home, designated as waste (Gyeonggi Ilbo, reported on the 2nd online).
Upon receiving the report, the relevant department of Ansan City implemented containment operations by setting up sand barriers at two points: the upstream point where the paint entered and a downstream point about 1.5 km away. The collected pollutants are being sent to a wastewater treatment plant for processing.
According to Ansan City on the 3rd, a report was received at around 5:50 p.m. the previous day about a blue paint-like substance emitting a strong odor entering Ansancheon from a storm drain at 670-4 Suam-dong, Sangnok-gu. Authorities promptly arrived at the scene and conducted a backtrack investigation.
The investigation revealed that a 50-year-old woman, Ms. A, discharged the water-based paint, which a household stored upstream of Ansancheon, through a storm duct.
The discharged water-based paint is classified as a designated waste chemical and is prohibited from being discharged illegally.
To prevent pollution in Ansancheon, the city installed sand containment barriers to block the inflow and outflow of river water, utilizing pumps to conduct overnight pumping operations in a 1.5 km section between Beolmalcheon and Janghakyo.
The city official stated that approximately 60 tons of contaminated water were collected upstream, which has been sent for processing through nearby storm ducts to a wastewater treatment plant.
A city official mentioned, “Since the substance dumped into the Ansancheon is registered in the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet), samples will be taken and analyzed for ecotoxicity and other aspects.”
Ansan City, having received a statement from Ms. A, is considering filing a complaint against her with the police.
Ms. A reportedly claimed, “I disposed of it without realizing.”
**Related article: “The Pungent Smell of Oil… Ansancheon Covered in Blue Liquid”**
https://www.kyeonggi.com/article/20250402580449