Why Does the Water Smell Like Thinner? 5,200-Household Apartment Complex Flustered

[Anchor]

Water supply was cut off for about 14 hours yesterday (September 19) at a large apartment complex in Suwon. As tap water smelled like paint thinner, the apartment management temporarily halted the water supply. However, as it will take time for the water quality test results to come out, residents' anxiety is growing.

Reporter Lee Tae-gwon covers the incidents and accidents.

[Reporter]

At a large apartment complex in Jangan-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, dozens of residents gather in front of the management office late at night to voice their complaints.

[When can we start drinking the water? Can we not drink the tap water?]

At around 9:40 a.m. yesterday, the district office received a large number of complaints from residents stating that "tap water smells like paint thinner" at the apartment complex consisting of some 5,200 households.

The apartment management office stated that thinner odors had seeped into the water during epoxy waterproofing work on the water tanks within the complex. Consequently, water supply was suspended for 155 out of the 158 buildings, and water tank cleaning was carried out.

The water cutoff was lifted around midnight, but residents are still expressing anxiety.

[Apartment Resident: My mother-in-law lives here, and the water supply was cut off, but they turned it back on a moment ago. Since they say it's running, people are using some of it, but we're still anxious. Since daytime, there were strong smells and things like that.]

Jangan-gu Office in Suwon stated that it supported emergency water supplies using water tank trucks and nearby community service centers, and conducted water quality tests. However, it explained that it is expected to take more than three weeks for the results to come out.

(Video by: Joo Yong-jin | Video Editing by: Lee Sang-min)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.