Sejong, July 12 - The Ministry of Environment (Minister Han Wha-jin) announced on July 8 that the first waterway was completed inside the Gokseong sewage treatment plant. The Ministry of Environment built the waterway as a part of a pilot project. The pilot project is to make a waterway utilizing nature-based solutions (NBS) in the sewage treatment plant to improve effluent quality and provide wildlife habitats. KRW 2 billion was spent on the project to construct the ecological waterway, which has a total area of 5,899 m2, a length of 394 m, and widths ranging from 2-4 m.

The Gokseong-gun waterway is anticipated to improve water quality by, for instance, naturally treating effluent from sewage treatment plants and reducing non-point pollutants generated from nearby impervious areas. An artificially constructed surface flow wetland, which is in the form of a floating plant island, acts as a light shield to control water temperature and simultaneously remove nitrogen and phosphorus that accumulate in the effluent as plants grow. A porous filter media made of clay was added to the waterway to adsorb nitrogen and phosphorus from effluent and provide a habitat for soil microorganisms.

Additionally, the ecological waterway is expected to expand waterfront areas and green zones in the vicinity, reaching the carbon absorption target and enhancing ecological services, such as developing ecological resting sites and utilizing them for environmental education programs.

The Ministry of Environment has implemented the ecological waterway pilot project since 2021. Given that this is the first ecological waterway installation, the Ministry will verify the outcomes of the pilot project and develop a plan for future expansion.

"We will develop the project into a best practice of green infrastructure utilizing nature-based solutions," said Ryu Yeon-gi, Director-General for the Water Environment Policy Bureau.

Contact: Cheon Ji-eun, Deputy Director

Water Environment Policy Division / +82-(0)44-201-7015

Foreign Media Contact: Chun Minjo(Rachel)

+82-(0)44-201-6055 / rachelmchun@korea.kr