Gyeonggi Province Promotes Phase 2 Total Pollutant Load Management Plan to Improve Han River Water Quality

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province announced on the 31st that it will actively promote the establishment of a basic plan for the implementation of Phase 2 Total Pollutant Load Management. This follows the Ministry of Environment's announcement on the 27th of target water quality at the boundary points of metropolitan cities, metropolitan provinces, and provinces in the Han River system.

'Total Pollutant Load Management' is a system that sets target water quality in rivers and manages the total amount of pollutants discharged into rivers to achieve this goal.

'Han River System Total Pollutant Load Management' began in 2004 as a voluntary system starting with Gwangju City and implemented in seven cities and counties upstream of Paldang Lake. Following amendments to the 'Han River System Act,' it has been implemented as a mandatory system since June 2013 in Phase 1 Total Pollutant Load Management. After the Ministry of Environment sets target water quality at city and province boundary points, the system is promoted through establishment of basic plans and implementation plans by cities and counties for each broader local government.

The Province announced that through implementation of Phase 1 Total Pollutant Load Management, water quality at city and province boundary points has been significantly improved compared to before the system's implementation. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) decreased by an average of 35%, and Total Phosphorus (T-P) decreased by an average of 54%. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Total Phosphorus (T-P) are among the indicators representing environmental standards for rivers, with lower figures indicating better water quality.

In Phase 2 Total Pollutant Load Management, the goal is to reduce BOD by an average of 25% and T-P by an average of 34% compared to Phase 1. Based on BOD standards: ▲Han River G (Gwangjin Bridge) 1.7㎎/L→1.7㎎/L ▲Tancheon A (Daewang Bridge) 6.8㎎/L→4.0㎎/L ▲Jungnang A (Sangdo Bridge) 8.6㎎/L→4.0㎎/L ▲Anyang A (Ogeum Bridge) 6.2㎎/L→6.2㎎/L ▲Han River I (Haengju Bridge) 4.1㎎/L→3.8㎎/L ▲Gulpo A (Gulpo 2 Bridge) 7.9㎎/L→3.9㎎/L have been set. Based on T-P standards: ▲Han River G (Gwangjin Bridge) 0.042㎎/L→0.039㎎/L ▲Tancheon A (Daewang Bridge) 0.454㎎/L→0.314㎎/L ▲Jungnang A (Sangdo Bridge) 0.575㎎/L→0.220㎎/L ▲Anyang A (Ogeum Bridge) 0.558㎎/L→0.320㎎/L ▲Han River I (Haengju Bridge) 0.236㎎/L→0.214㎎/L ▲Gulpo A (Gulpo 2 Bridge) 0.959㎎/L→0.486㎎/L have been respectively set.

Based on this total load management system, the Province plans to establish a Gyeonggi Province basic plan by December, with the goal of achieving the announced water quality by 2030. The basic plan will include ▲setting target water quality for major rivers in the province excluding city and province boundary points ▲calculation and allocation of loads by cities and counties and by unit watersheds from 2021 to 2030, and will further strengthen efforts toward water quality improvement through systematic management.

Kim Kyung-don, Director of the Water Quality Total Load Division at Gyeonggi Province's Water Resources Headquarters, said, "Water quality in the Han River has improved significantly through the implementation of Phase 1 Total Pollutant Load Management," and added, "Through the establishment of a basic plan, we will make further efforts to simultaneously achieve target water quality in Phase 2 and create an environment for sustainable regional development."