Suwon Selected as 'Eco City' in '2020 Eco-Friendly City Awards'

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Suwon City announced on the 26th that it has been selected as an 'Eco City' (Grand Prize, Eco-Friendly Local Government Leader Award, and Clean Water City category award) in the '2020 Eco-Friendly City Awards' sponsored by the Korea Environmental Information Center and supported by the Ministry of Environment.

The 'Eco-Friendly City Awards,' now in its 9th year, evaluates natural environment conservation efforts of basic local governments nationwide and selects 'Eco Cities' in different categories.

This year, six local governments and their leaders were selected across six categories. Suwon City received the Grand Prize in the 'Clean Water City category.'

The Korea Environmental Information Center presents the 'Eco-Friendly Local Government Leader Award' to heads of local governments in each category, and designates all six award-winning cities as recipients of the 'Grand Prize.'

Suwon City was recognized for achievements in establishing an 'integrated water management system' and creating a 'water circulation city.'

Suwon City is steadily building a rainwater recycling system to create a 'water circulation city.' Currently, 318 public and private rainwater storage facilities have been installed.

Suwon City selected the 'Rain City Suwon Season 2 Project' as a civic pledge project for the 6th civilian government term, and in 2014 jointly conducted a pilot 'Green Rainwater Infrastructure Development Project' with the Ministry of Environment, establishing 'Green Rainwater Infrastructure' for the first time nationwide in the courtyard of Jangan-gu Office.

In 2017, the city launched the 'Green Rainwater Infrastructure Development Project.' The project, continuing through this year, involves installing plant cultivation planters, permeable paving, and vegetated swales using low-impact development techniques in four areas including Maetan-dong.

Water stored in rainwater retention tanks is utilized in the 'automatic road sprinkling system' and others. Rainwater supply devices in the shape of gas pumps have been installed at six locations including Suwon World Cup Stadium and Suwon Sports Complex.

From 2006 to 2015, the city undertook the 'Seoho Stream Ecological Stream Restoration Project,' and after the restoration project, the water quality and ecosystem environment of Seoho Stream improved significantly.

According to a survey conducted by Suwon City from January to December last year of the Seoho Stream area (8.3 km section from Pajang Water Purification Plant in Jangan-gu to Nonndae Bridge in Seodun-dong, Gwonseon-gu) regarding aquatic ecosystem health, biodiversity, and water quality, aquatic plants increased dramatically from 31 species in 2006 to 185 species, fish from 4 species to 13 species, and birds from 19 species to 31 species.

Water quality also improved. The BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) level of Seoho Stream decreased from 10.72mg/L (very poor, Grade V) in 2006 to 2.47mg/L (slightly good, Grade II) in 2019.

Additionally, through the 'Suwon Stream Restoration Project' completed in 2012, Suwon Stream has been reborn as an ecological stream. Through continuous management thereafter, the water quality of Suwon Stream has noticeably improved.

Kim Woo-sik, head of the city's Water Quality and Environment Division, stated, "We will actively pursue water circulation projects to create an eco-friendly city where water, nature, and people coexist harmoniously," and added, "We will continue to discover efficient water management methods."