Pyeongtaek City to Receive 14 Billion Won in Government Funding for Tongbok Stream Water Quality Improvement

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Pyeongtaek City announced on the 31st that Tongbok Stream, a tributary flowing into Anseong River, has been finally selected for the Ministry of Environment's 9th Integrated Concentrated Polluted Stream Improvement Project and will receive 14 billion won in government funding.

With the project selection, Tongbok Stream will receive a total of 48 billion won invested in water quality improvement through 2023, including 14 billion won in government funding and a total project cost of 20 billion won, in addition to the existing sewage pipeline maintenance project.

Pyeongtaek Mayor Jung Jang-seon explained the necessity of the project through continuous direct meetings with the Minister of Environment and the Director of the Han River Environment Office since last year.

The selected detailed projects include ▲installation of non-point source pollution reduction facilities ▲installation of total phosphorus treatment facilities at wastewater treatment plants ▲installation of direct stream purification facilities, which are facilities to block external pollution sources and installation of direct purification facilities.

The Integrated Concentrated Polluted Stream Improvement Project is a Ministry of Environment competition that selects and supports streams capable of generating synergy effects between projects through intensive investment in a polluted stream watershed over a short period.

Water quality improvement of Tongbok Stream is a pledge of Pyeongtaek City's seventh popular election administration. Recently, water quality deterioration of stream maintenance water and rapid urbanization have caused odor and worsened water quality.

Since 2018, the city has established comprehensive plans ▲organized and operated water quality improvement task forces ▲conducted specialized research projects ▲joint field visits to excellent streams ▲held visiting water quality policy briefings and pursued various policies.

The city expects to gain further momentum in water quality improvement with the selection of the government-funded competition project.

Additionally, the entire section of Tongbok Stream will be designated as a fishing prohibition zone to fundamentally block indiscriminate stream pollution sources, and this will be promoted together.

If various water quality improvement projects are promoted and synergy effects are generated between each project, Tongbok Stream's water quality is expected to improve significantly from Grade 4 to Grade 2 based on biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and from Grade 5 to Grade 2 in total phosphorus (T-P), transforming it into a clean waterside space with leisure and culture.

Mayor Jung Jang-seon of Pyeongtaek City stated, "The competition project is an achievement obtained through cooperation with departments in the Tongbok Stream Water Quality Task Force including the Environmental Policy Division, Parks Division, Construction and River Division, and Sewerage Division. Going forward, we will strengthen collaboration with related departments to promote the Tongbok Stream water quality improvement project without interruption."