The Gyeong-an Stream is the river that has been revived by unflagging endeavors of residents of the province. The stream was once notoriously titled as main culprit responsible for the contamination of the Paldang Lake. However it reversed itself as a guiding angel flowing clean water by constant efforts of the locals. It is designated as leading enterprise district for "Hometown River Project" by the Ministry of Land, Transportation and Maritime Affairs so that it will be restored much more perfect eco-stream.
Restoration case of local rivers : the Gyeong-an Stream, Gyeonggi ProvinceEcological Wetland Park of the Gyeong-an Stream became a pride of the local residents.
Main culprit for contamination of the Paldang Lake, drinking water source of 25 million citizens
The Gyeong-an Stream runs through Yongin, Gwangju (the one located in Gyeonggi Prov.) to be merged into the Paldang Lake at Toechon-myeon, its total length reaches to 49.3 km (standard of national river is from 22.5 km), and its basin is 575.3 km2. Until the early 1980's, the Gyeongan Stream was as clean as children played inside and fishermen fished there. However, from the late 1980's, many livestock farming sites were built and affect water quality deterioration to put the region designated as 'water source reservaton' into shade. From early 1990's with expanding urbanization of Yongin and Gwangju, domestic sewages overflowed to contaminate the stream into out of control status. BOD degree measured in 2002 was 8.8 mg/L as 4th grade level, which is meaning that it cannot be used even as agricultural purpose. As the Gyeong-an Stream went down under severe contamination, subsequently the water quality of the Paldang Lake - being the destination of the Gyeong-an Stream - deteriorates together. The water contained in the Paldang Lake is vital water resource which provides it to 25 million citizens in Seoul-Gyeonggi metropolitan area. Though the water requirement portion of the Gyeong-an is not big to the Paldang Lake, however, as to the pollutant loadings, the Gyeong-an takes share of 16% out of the total amount of the Paldang Lake. So that's why the Gyeong-an has been targeted as main culprit for the contamiantion of the Paldang Lake.
Thanks to the residents' endeavors, now the Gyeongan tuned into guiding angel to the Paldang Lake
The Gyeong-an Stream now represents volte-face in its status. Gyeonggi Province addressed that BOD examined in the Gyeong-an has shown a quantum leap in water quality enhancement from 7.3 mg/L (March 2010) to 2.9 mg/L (March 2007). The average BOD of 1st quarter (January to March), although it was dry season, recorded annually 6.6 mg/L (2007), 3.7 mg/L (2008), 3.5 mg/L (2009), 3.1 mg/L (2010) to indicate gradual improvement. Along with it, water quality of the Paldang became clearer. According to the Office of Paldang Water Quality Enhancement, the average water quality of the Paldang Lake indicated 1.0 mg/L in BOD, which recorded the highest level since the special act for water quality enhancement was taken into effect.
This could be possible because of concerted cooperation among citizens of Yongin and Gwangju, government and Gyeonggi Province and local corporates. Ministry of Land, Transportation and Maritime Affairs has established demonstration project plan for creating ecostream in the Osan Stream (Osan), the Hwangguji Stream (Hwaseong) and more seven streams as well as the Gyeongan Stream in 1998. Meanwhie the Gyeonggi Province established the comprehensive measures for water quality enhancement in the Gyeong-an Stream with budget investment of KRW 2.3 trillion in 2006.
Along with the measurement newly established, the first thing executed was a work of eleminating the source of pollutant. Although the objections of the farmers and locals from seven counties of Yangpyeong, Gwangju and Yongin were very tough, howevr, Gyeonggi Province persistantly persuaded them by having suggested concrete countermeasure for what they can live with later, finally drew agreement. Gyeonggi Province intensified crackdown on illegal discharges of pollutant substances from some suspicious 681 spots of factories as well as commercial and agricultural establishments with water quality monitoring and expanded 50 public sewage treatment facilities. Penetration rate of sewer is expected to exceed the level of 90% this year from 60% of 2006. We enforced the regulations for 'The publicly managed eco-monitoring system' for the first time in nationwide. 'The publicly managed eco-monitoring system' means that designated experts supervise civilian establishments like restaurants, public operated houses scattered in seven administrative districts, they contributed a lot for water quality improvement. With this, Yongin and Gwangju citizens voluntarily formed 'Campaign headquarter of revitalizing the Gyeon-an Stream' in order to monitor the local riparian ecosystem as watchdog.
Nationwide the largest artifical wetland creation is completed, showing off outstanding ability of water purification.
From now on, concerning water quality improvement, this artificial wetland will assume responsibility for purifying stream water with inherent self-cleansing property. The artificial wetland had building dedication ceremony in Toechon-myeon, Gwangju on April 27, it is 96,116 m2 in area as the largest scale in the country, and is able to cope with 42,587 tons of waste water a day. Natural purifying system of the wetland functions by receiving water to filter the contaminant substances with inherent purifying ability and then let it flow again to natural stream of the Gyeong-an. Gyeonggi Province has plan of supplementing additional two artificial wetlands (184,116 m2 in the Gyeong-an until 2012. By that, the total amount that the Gyeong-an Stream's wetlands can treat with per day would reach to 170,000 tons so that it will have contributed to improvement of water quality in the Paldang Lake, the water source.
The artificial wetland created this time is anticipated to play a role as an ecological school representing the Gyeong-an Stream. Wetland's ecopark shows off its huge scale of 162,000 m2 (equivalent to the size of 20 football grounds) and equipped with wooden bridges and wooden observatory deck. 60 species of birds including swan and mallard designated as natural monument, and 20 species of fishes like catfish, carp and loach have their habitat inside the eco-park.
The Gyeongan Stream is already designated as leading examplary case of "Hometown River", the comprehensive local rivers enhancement project by the Ministry of Land, Transportation and Maritime Affairs. Through this project, the Gyeong-an Stream will have evironment-friendly movable weir instead of concrete weir and fishways for rare species of fishes. In addition, we will design the water stream line in various ways in order to let the ecosystem form the close-to-the-nature sand bars and brooks. Then we will add ecological study facilities to utilize as live eco-school.
