The Ministry of Environment, local residents and governments reached an voluntary agreement on improving and preserving water quality of Daepo-chon, Gimhae, Gyungsangnam-do.

The water quality level of Daepo-chon, one of the Nakdong river systems, had been in level III-IV (when level I indicating the best water quality level, and level V the worst); however, it has been upgraded to level I in 1999 thanks to voluntary conservation efforts of the local residents.

Until 1997, numerous water polluters, such as 10 villages with 4,300 population, livestock industries, factories and restaurants near Daepo-chon have degraded the water quality. The local residents decided to save Daepo-chon before government's strong regulation put in force; they established a fund (30 million Won) for water quality improvement, cleaned the bottom of the river, and monitored the polluters, etc. In 1999, BOD level of the river improved to level I and endangered fish and clams reappeared.

In return for their efforts, Ministry of Environment, the governor of Kyungsangnam-do, and the mayor of Gimhae will grant the local residents sufficient support for their activities.

The agreement includes the following.

- Local residents will preserve the current BOD level by saving water, reducing the usage of synthetic detergent, treating nightsoil, treating wastewater from restaurants, etc.

- The government will support local residents' activities when the annual average of water quality satisfies the standard set by the Act Relating to Water Resource Management and Community Support for Nakdong River.

- Designation of Special Measure Zones and implementation of the Maximum Pollution Load System will be postponed when the water quality of Daepo-chon satisfies the standard set by the Act Relating to Water Resource Management and Community Support for Nakdong River.