Sejong, October 12 - The Ministry of Environment (Minister Han Wha-jin) established the "basic plan for national waterworks (2022-2031)" to develop a national water policy more systematically and utilize water efficiently. After unifying water management, the ministry formulated the basic plan for the first time. The basic plan was publicly notified by the Ministry of Environment on October 5. Following the changes and current trends in the waterworks business, the Ministry of Environment reorganized the "basic plan for national waterworks" by integrating the "comprehensive Plans for National Waterworks" and the "basic plans for waterworks installation" to increase consistency of the dualized plans. In addition, the Ministry of Environment changed the "basic plan for waterworks installation" set by the local governments to the "plan for waterworks installation." The ministry enforced to reflect the "Master Plan for National Waterworks" when the local governments formulate their waterworks plans, intended to strengthen the connection between national and local waterworks plans.

With its vision to provide reliable waterworks services for all, the "basic plan for national waterworks" aims to establish a safe water system and provide sustainable waterworks services. The water supply system has been divided vertically (metropolitan city to province) and horizontally (province to province). The new basic plan reestablished the water supply system as the four major rivers basin-based integrated system to overcome the duplication of investment and limitations in responding to incidents. In addition, the new basic plan laid a foundation to utilize various water resources, such as recycling sewage and wastewater and desalinating seawater. Until recently, the country was dependent on dams for its water resource. If the country could utilize alternative water resources, it would minimize damages concerning drought and water-related accidents. The new basic plan also includes gradual expansion of the emergency connection of waterworks and duplication of water pipes. Furthermore, the new basic plan strengthened the hygienic management of waterworks facilities to the same level as the hygienic management of food to ensure the safety of tap water. The basic plan also includes a smart management system in the water production and supply process, improvement of water purification facilities, and expansion of advanced water purification facilities that preemptively respond to larvae and algal bloom growth in water.

In the meantime, the Ministry of Environment predicted the national water supply capacity by 2040 and found that seventy-four Si and Gun lacked 2,210,000 ㎥ water per day. In this regard, the basic plan intends to spend KRW 24,400.6 billion by 2040 to expand waterworks facilities and repair them, ensuring the supply of clean and stable tap water. First, KRW 7,699.5 billion will be invested to adjust the water system that utilizes surplus water (460,000 ㎥/day), secure alternative water resources (672,000 ㎥/day), and implement local/metropolitan waterworks development projects to supply extra water needed. 

The Ministry of Environment will conduct a preliminary feasibility study to develop the Chungju Dam inter-regional waterworks (115,000 ㎥/day) this year. The ministry expects inter-regional waterworks to solve the water shortage in southern Gyeonggi-do (Anseong) regions and Chungcheongbuk-do (Goesan-gun, Eumseong-gun, and Jincheon-gun). The ministry will invest KRW 13,570.2 billion for potential droughts and waterworks incidents to make emergency connections between waterworks facilities and improve and duplicate the water pipes. The new basic plans include the ways to supply water to Gwangju Metropolitan City and the area of Gwangyangman Bay through an emergency connection with Jangheung Dam. It will help to secure the water source for the Juam Dam, which has been maintaining a "severe" level of drought since summer.

In the basic plan, the Ministry of Environment ensures the timely supply of industrial water for developing high-tech industries, such as semiconductors, liquid-crystal displays, and petrochemicals. Since 4.86 million ㎥ of industrial water is needed for high-tech sectors a day, 4 million ㎥ will be supplied through dams, and another 860,000 ㎥ through alternative water resources, such as reused sewage and desalinated seawater. The ministry expects such initiatives to strengthen the country's competitive edge in the high-tech industry and economic growth in the era when the global industrial structure is being reorganized, centering on technology-intensive and high-value industries like semiconductors. 

Park Jae-hyun, Director-General of the Integrated Water Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Environment, said, "We are now able to lay a foundation for supplying water considering the overall water circulation system of the nation through the Basic Plan for National Waterworks." He added, "We will do our best to provide water services that can benefit everyone regardless of time and place."

Contact: Park Jin-hyung, Deputy Director

Water Use Planning Division/ +82-(0)44-201-7129

Foreign Media Contact: Chun Minjo(Rachel)

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