Suwon Establishes Comprehensive Water Reuse Plan for Next 10 Years

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Suwon has established a comprehensive management plan for water reuse over the next 10 years to promote water reuse and secure sustainable eco-friendly water resources.

On the 2nd, the city held a 'Final Report Meeting for Suwon Water Reuse Management Plan (Revised) Development Project' at the City Hall situation room, attended by members of the Integrated Water Management Committee.

At the briefing, the city reported that rainwater utilization facilities are currently installed at 250 locations in Suwon with a facility capacity of 56,104.5 cubic meters, and plans to additionally install rainwater utilization facilities at 30 locations (with a facility capacity of 14,828 cubic meters) by 2030.

The city also stated that the current annual rainwater utilization capacity is 1,534,048.0 cubic meters, and by additionally installing facilities at 30 locations, it will increase the annual rainwater utilization capacity to 220,427.2 cubic meters.

The city plans to increase the facility capacity of recycled water facilities by 1,648 cubic meters per day by 2030. If the expansion is completed as planned, the cumulative total facility capacity will increase to 6,390.3 cubic meters per day.

When the water reuse management plan is implemented, based on 2030 standards, 2.2% (11,197 cubic meters per day) of Suwon's total daily water demand of 500,017 cubic meters can be supplied through recycled water, which is expected to reduce tap water consumption. Rainwater utilization facilities can recycle 4,806.8 cubic meters of water per day, and recycled water facilities can provide 6,390.3 cubic meters per day. Reclaimed wastewater (replacing industrial water outside Suwon) is expected to reach 380,500 cubic meters per day.

If the water reuse rate increases according to the management plan, the greenhouse gas reduction effect based on 2023 standards is predicted to be 415,881 kg CO2eq for rainwater utilization facilities (equivalent to planting 2,977 pine trees), 552,793 kg CO2eq for recycled water facilities (3,958 pine trees), and 39,576,038 kg CO2eq for reclaimed wastewater (283,364 pine trees).

Since enacting the 'Ordinance on Water Cycle Management in Suwon' in 2009, the city has continuously built rainwater recycling systems as part of the 'Rain City Suwon' project (water cycle system establishment project). 'Rain City Suwon' creates a system that recycles 'flowing water' like rainwater.

The city has so far installed rainwater retention tanks at eight locations including Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon Sports Complex, Gwanggyo Middle School, and Dasan Park, with a total storage capacity of 47,090 cubic meters. Water stored in rainwater retention tanks is utilized in 'automatic road spraying systems' and other applications.

A city official stated, "The Suwon Water Reuse Management Plan will serve as a solid foundation for promoting systematic water circulation and water reuse policies," and added, "We will implement the plan without delay and maximize the reuse of limited water resources."