Seoul’s tap water Arisu was produced at a quarter of what it costs to produce in New York and London, the city government said Monday, promoting its efficient management of water supply facilities.

According to Seoul Metropolitan Government, the city spent some 775 billion won ($685 million) last year on producing 1.1 billion cubic meters of tap water, which translates into 679 won per cubic meter.

The production cost of tap water in Seoul is far cheaper than New York’s 2,690 won per cubic meter and London’s 2,543 won per cubic meter, the city said, citing data from 2011 Comparison of Annual Water Cycle Charges report. Paris and Tokyo were producing tap water at 1,737 won per cubic meter and 2,193 won per cubic meter, respectively. 

The Seoul city attributed its low cost of tap water production to well-equipped and sustainable waterworks system. As of 2015, Seoul’s water flow rate hit 96 percent, slightly above that of Paris (91.4 percent) and Tokyo (95.8 percent). 

“Seoul City will continue to ensure that citizens’ drinking water has the highest quality and improve the maintenance at the Arisu Purification Center,” said Yoon Jun-byung, head of Seoul Metropolitan Government’s office of waterworks. 

According to Arisu Quality Report published in May, Seoul’s tap water acquired the ISO 22000 international certification from the International Organization for Standardization for its drinkable quality.

The water was free of 26 harmful substances including lead, arsenic, cadmium, phenol and parathion, while no pathogenic microorganisms were detected, the report said. 

By Kim Da-sol (ddd@heraldcorp.com)