Gyeonggi Institute of Health and Environment to Monitor Harmful Cyanobacteria at Four Reservoirs Including Giheung Reservoir

Gyeonggi Province will conduct "monitoring of harmful cyanobacteria" at reservoirs including Giheung Reservoir.

The Gyeonggi Institute of Health and Environment announced on May 13 that it will monitor harmful cyanobacteria at four urban park reservoirs frequently visited by residents, including Giheung and Wangsong Reservoirs.

Cyanobacteria are a type of phytoplankton that form algal blooms and can proliferate rapidly when water temperatures are high and nutrients are abundant.

When cyanobacteria multiply in large numbers, they produce odor-causing substances depending on the season. Among them, certain "harmful cyanobacteria" can generate toxins that may affect human health, making preemptive management crucial.

Gyeonggi Provincial Government

Accordingly, the Institute plans to analyze every month—until October—cyanobacteria cell counts, the toxic substance "microcystin," and the odor-causing substances "geosmin" and "2-MIB" (which can cause earthy or moldy smells in water) at four locations: Giheung Reservoir (Yongin), Wangsong Reservoir (Uiwang), Bundang Central Park (Seongnam), and Eungye Lake Park (Siheung).

Choi Pilkwon, Director of the Water Environment Research Division at the Gyeonggi Institute of Health and Environment, stated, "Since urban park reservoirs are living spaces where residents enjoy walking and resting, it is important to manage algal blooms in advance," adding, "We will continue to conduct water quality surveys to create waterfront environments that everyone can use with peace of mind."

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