All 20 swimming spots in Gangwon Province pass water quality tests ahead of summer season

All 20 representative swimming areas in Gangwon Province passed water quality inspections ahead of the summer vacation season, authorities said Thursday.

The Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Institute of Health and Environment conducted pre-peak-season water quality tests at popular swimming destinations — including Mureung Valley in Donghae and Heungjeong Valley in Pyeongchang — from May 12 to June 2. All sites met safety standards.

All 20 sites recorded E. coli counts of between 0 and 98 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters, with an average of 15 per 100 mL — well within the recommended guideline of fewer than 500 per 100 mL, and ranging from one-fiftieth to one-five-hundredth of that threshold.

Assessments across seven indicators of river environmental quality — including total phosphorus and total organic carbon — placed all sites between "very good" (Grade Ia) and "slightly good" (Grade II). Tests for five strains of pathogenic E. coli returned negative results at every location, confirming the water is safe from waterborne infectious diseases, the institute added.

Shin In-cheol, director of the institute, said the agency would "continue water quality monitoring and maintain a rapid response system throughout the peak swimming season in July and August, doing our utmost to create a safe environment where visitors can enjoy the water with peace of mind."