Replacement of Aging Water Pipes Over 20 Years Old

Gyeonggi Province has decided to replace all aging water pipes that have been in use for more than 20 years by 2010.

To this end, the province plans to invest 20.4 billion won this year to replace water pipes spanning 67 km across 37 districts in 15 cities and counties, including 10 km in Suwon, 9 km in Anyang, and 8 km in Pyeongtaek.

Previously, in accordance with its policy to replace all 2,117 km of aging water pipes over 20 years old by 2010, the province replaced a total of 846 km from 2002 through last year.

With the replacement of aging water pipes, the water leakage rate is expected to decrease to 8.5% this year, 0.4 percentage points lower than the previous year, and to 7.9% by 2010.

In addition, the province plans to expand water supply coverage by constructing two water purification plants with a capacity of 26,000 tons each in Yangpyeong and Hanam this year, and laying 73 km of water pipes across 15 cities and counties including Suwon.

The province projects that when the water supply facility expansion project is completed, the water supply coverage rate in the province will reach 94.3%.