Today was the last day of our site visits, and it was both informative and eye-opening!
We started the day by visiting the Oil Park, followed by a tour of the Water Purification Center. Unfortunately, the Oil Park was recently purchased by a private owner, so public access was limited. Although we couldn’t explore much of the site, the parts we were able to see were filled with greenery and natural landscapes. It felt more like a scenic public park than an industrial site. Interestingly, it turns out that water storage and natural preservation can go hand in hand in spaces like this.

Afterward, we headed to Ttukdo, the Water Purification Center, which plays a major role in providing clean drinking water to Seoul. This facility is responsible for purifying a significant portion of the city’s tap water. It was fascinating to learn about the various stages involved in treating water drawn from the Han River. We were shown samples at different stages of the purification process, which helped us clearly visualize how the water is cleaned step-by-step until it becomes safe for household use.

Following the plant tour, we visited the Water Purification Museum. I was surprised to learn how much history is tied to water purification in Korea. One particularly interesting fact was that during the Korean War, sand was commonly used to filter water. Sand naturally contains microorganisms that feed on bacteria, making it an effective, low-tech method of purification.

Overall, today was incredibly educational. I never realized how complex and historically rich the process of water purification could be. From seeing nature coexist with infrastructure to understanding how science makes our water safe, I walked away with a much deeper appreciation for something we often take for granted.