(1)Reasons for Proposal
The Amendment allows relevant public officials to conduct sampling for examinations of the quality of drinking water in island areas, etc., and clearly prescribes laboratory facility standards for inspection institutes, thereby aiming to improve the quality of water quality inspection results. Also, it prescribes specific work procedures to follow applications for the designation of institutions to examine the quality of drinking water, and otherwise addresses and improves upon a number of weaknesses that have emerged from the operation of the current system.
(2)Major Provisions
A. Newly insert regular training of quality controllers (Article 17, paragraph 1)
Require quality controllers of manufacturers of drinking spring water, etc., water treatment chemicals, and water purifiers to regularly undergo quality control training every three years.
B. Clearly specify criteria under which a person who has applied for the designation of an institution to examine the quality of drinking water, etc., may be requested to provide additional information and under which an application form may be rejected (Article 35, paragraphs 3, 4, and 5)
Allow the President of the National Institute of Environmental Research and heads of regional environmental offices to request additional information from a person who has applied for the designation of an institution to examine the quality of drinking water within a specified period, or to reject the application form where the applicant falls under certain grounds.
C. Additionally designate statutory institutions to examine the quality of drinking water (Article 35, paragraph 8)
Designate as statutory institutions to examine the quality of drinking water the Preventive Medical Service Corp of the Republic of Korea Army in charge of the quality of drinking water in national defense and military installations, and the regional branches of Korea Water Resources Corporation that carry out water quality tests at water purification plants.
D. Increase the number of members of the deliberative committee on the quality of water purifiers (Article 36, paragraph 2)
Strengthen the expertise of the deliberative committee on the quality of water purifiers by increasing the number of members from a minimum of 10 to 14, and ensure fairness by prescribing that members may serve two consecutive terms.
E. Add facility standards for manufacturers of water treatment chemicals (attached Table 3)
Newly insert the types of manufacturing equipment to be installed by manufacturers of water treatment chemicals in accordance with the recent additional designation/announcement of two types of water treatment chemicals.
F. Further clarify laboratory facility standards for drinking water testing institutions (attached Table 8)
Prescribe laboratory facility standards for virus and protozoa testing institutions in a clearer and more specific manner.
G. Allow exceptions concerning drinking water samplers (attached Table 8-2)
As for water quality tests and guidance/inspections in island areas, etc., and water quality tests associated with licenses/permits, etc., allow relevant public officials who have completed the prescribed training to take drinking water samples
