Water Quality of the Paldang Lake Changed Dramatically

The water quality of the Paldang Lake (vital catchment for Seoul Metropolitan area) has been improved with indicating the best figures in examinations since 2006. Some insistence that the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project has been implicated in water quality deterioration was proved as overanxiety at last. In the meticulous measure on the Paldang Lake in February 6, Gyeonggi Province certified that BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) indicated 1.16mg/L (the best record since it was checked in 2005 as 1.12mg/L). As the average BOD tested in the Paldang in last month February was 0.9mg/L, it proved its reliable level as first grade (below 1.0mg/L in BOD).

The annual average BOD measured in the Paldang in 2006 was 1.18mg/L, and another average figure from 2006 to 2010 was 1.23mg/L. An official of Paldang Water Quality Enhancement Office witnessed, “Last year, the rivers restoration project was its prime time with many constructions for weirs and dredging throughout the river. However, this year, many indication figures returned again as usual in normal years. It doesn’t seem that once it is completed, no negative affection to the river and riparian ecosystem”. Following to the statement for improved water quality in the Paldang water conservation zone, Mulgeum district of the Nakdong and some areas of the Yeongsan and the Geum River are reportedly proving their purified improvement as water source. These consequences can be good evidences representing that the Project in last year might have contributed on the water quality improvement or related constructions hardly affected to water quality.