Suwon Achieves 36.3 Billion Won Cost Savings in Hwangguji Stream Public Wastewater Treatment Facility Project

[Suwon Ilbo = Reporter Seo Dong-young] Suwon City achieved a significant accomplishment by applying the latest membrane separation method—an advanced construction technique that takes into account wastewater reuse—to this year's 'Hwangguji Stream Public Wastewater Treatment Facility Construction Project,' reducing construction costs by 36.3 billion won and earning recognition as an exemplary local finance case.

The city received the Minister's Award from the Ministry of Interior and Safety in the expenditure reduction category at the '2019 Exemplary Local Finance Cases' event held on the afternoon of the 17th in the Grand Hall of the Government Complex in Sejong City.

The Ministry of Interior and Safety selects exemplary local finance cases in three categories—▲expenditure reduction ▲revenue increase ▲other fields—in order to promote and share cases of active local financial management and fiscal efficiency, thereby enhancing local finance efficiency and soundness.

The Hwangguji Stream Public Wastewater Treatment Facility, scheduled to be installed in the Homae-sil-dong area of Gwonseon-gu, was initially planned to apply the standard activated sludge process during the basic design phase. However, after deliberation by a 'Construction Method Selection Committee,' the latest membrane separation method was incorporated into the detailed design, resulting in cost reduction.

The latest membrane separation method filters water similarly to a water purifier filter, allowing for a dramatic reduction in facility scale compared to the standard activated sludge process, which requires microorganisms and a certain period for water retention.

As a result, the facility dimensions were changed from the original 220m×120m×17m to 194m×62m×14m, and the floor area of the administrative building for managing the wastewater treatment facility was reduced by approximately half, from 2,360㎡ to 1,228㎡.

Consequently, the construction project cost, initially estimated at 127 billion won, was reduced to 90.7 billion won, achieving savings of 36.3 billion won.

The application of the membrane separation method not only reduced project costs but was also evaluated as an eco-friendly water circulation method, as it ensures high water quality of treated wastewater, making it easily reusable for agricultural water and maintenance of nearby streams.

The Hwangguji Stream Public Wastewater Treatment Facility will proceed with various administrative procedures and land compensation, beginning construction in the first half of next year and completing the project in June 2022.

The city has established a plan to completely underground the wastewater treatment facility and develop the upper area as a sports park, making it a more familiar facility for residents.

Yun Heung-seon, Director of Suwon City's Wastewater Management Division, stated: "Taking this institutional commendation as an opportunity, we will reexamine our work until project completion to ensure that taxpayers' money is not wasted," and added "We will make efforts so that the wastewater treatment plant is recognized as an eco-friendly purification facility."