Sang Bae Kim, Director General of Environmental Water Quality Control
How would the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project improve water quality?
The Four Major Rivers Restoration Project includes 1281 water quality improvement projects on top of the dredging work. It is to increase the number of pollution processing facilities and to restore contaminated rivers in environmentalfriendly means and more than anything it is essential to manage so that the results of water quality improvement project create long-term effects. After completion of the project, approximately 1.3 billion tons of water will be added to enhance water quality.
How is the forecast system for water quality operated?
Forecast system for water quality is a system that scientifically predicts the future state of water quality in comprehensive consideration of the following components; current water quality, water volume conditions, and pollutant data. First, it is operated in a manner to predict water quality for seven days and a series of predictions are spread to all institutions related to the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project and utilized in pre-emptive and preventive water quality management.
What has to be kept in mind for systematic integration of water management?
The anti-project activists mentioned the possibility of algae from the increased residence time. What is more important here is to identify the amount of pollutant or water residence time relating to algae creation. As actual examples, we can take a look at the Bukhan River with many dams. Water residence time in the Bukhan River is more than 300 days the longest. Despite of this fact, it has never had a problem with algae due to low influx of pollutants. With this in mind, measures to prevent influx of phosphorus, which is the main cause of algae formation is being organized.
In addition to improving water quality, preservation of aquatic ecosystem was also a buzzword.
Special efforts have been paid for the conservation of aquatic ecosystem as we progress through the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project. River shoreline (riparian) was put intact in its natural state including the trees and bushes. Only when it was unavoidable, the concrete was used and the corresponding section is only 0.2 percent of the entire plan. It is comparative to the Han River Development Project where 88 percent of the plan was raised by the concrete. For the wetlands that have ecological values or are large enough, the construction was executed to conserve their original state resulting in preservation of the Bucheowool wetland in the Han River. There are wetlands that had to be inevitably affected from the construction process but new wetlands were created to be replaced in 179 different places.
For fish protection measures, endangered species that are under the legal protection were artificially incubated and discharged and 33 eco-friendly fish ways were also created.
To me, the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project isIt is the ‘protection of life and the source.’ I got a chance to go back and realize the true meaning of life and harmony of human and nature. As watching the life grows again in the rivers, I believe this river can become a valuable asset that we pass on to the next generation.
