Seoul Offers $25 Reward for Reporting Water Main Leaks

On October 13, the Seoul Water Authority urged residents to report any suspected leaks by calling the 120 Dasan Call Center or their local waterworks office.

The reward system was introduced in June 2021 to encourage early detection and prompt repair of leaks through citizen reports. If a report is confirmed as a water main leak and the reporter is recognized as the first to report it, they will receive a mobile gift card worth 30,000 won. In 2024 and 2025, over 40% of leaks were discovered through citizen reports.

Water main leaks can occur due to various factors, including vibrations from traffic or construction, and corrosion of pipes. These leaks not only result in water loss but can also lead to road damage, flooding, and traffic disruptions, potentially affecting water quality. Therefore, early detection and rapid repair are crucial.

The city explained that while its internal monitoring systems can detect anomalies, pinpointing the exact location of a leak can take time. When citizens report leaks, it allows for quicker on-site verification, reducing the time needed for repairs.

Signs of a suspected leak include water bubbling up between road or sidewalk cracks or water leaking around water main manholes. Providing accurate location details and the extent of the water spread when reporting can aid in swift verification.

Once a report is received, a leak repair team from the local waterworks office will be dispatched to confirm the leak's location and carry out necessary repairs. After restoring water supply, they will check water quality and complete road repairs. The city stated that all leak sites confirmed through citizen reports last year were promptly addressed without causing water quality issues.

A 24-hour emergency response system is also in place to prepare for sudden leaks. The city has organized a total of 24 teams, comprising two teams during the day and one at night across eight waterworks offices, with 107 personnel ready to respond. Emergency drills simulating actual incidents are conducted 12 times a year to assess on-site response capabilities.

In addition to responding to leaks, the city is also conducting regular inspections of 123 leak-prone areas and proactively searching for leaks in regions with low water flow rates or significant pressure variations. They are gradually upgrading aging water mains and have established a real-time flow monitoring system.

The city is also working on a 'water main block system' to reroute water supply through alternative pipes in the event of a leak. They reported that these preventive and management efforts led to a 5% reduction in water main leaks in 2024 compared to the previous year. Moving forward, the city plans to strengthen its management system to enhance leak prevention, early detection, and rapid repairs in conjunction with citizen reports.

Kwon Min, head of the Seoul Water Authority, stated, "Seoul is doing its utmost to prevent and quickly identify leaks through aging pipe maintenance and monitoring systems. With citizen reports, we can detect leaks even faster and minimize damage, so we will actively encourage public participation through the reward system."