Chungnam Saves 8.3 Billion KRW Annually by Preventing Water Leakage in Water Supply System

[Asia Economy (Naepo) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Chungnam Province saved 8.3 billion KRW annually by improving the local water supply system's water loss rate.

On the 11th, the province announced this while conducting a mid-term inspection of the progress of the ‘Local Water Supply Modernization Project’ in 11 cities and counties within its jurisdiction, including Cheonan City.

The Local Water Supply Modernization Project aims to reduce water supply costs by preventing leaks. Since 2017, it has been carried out in Buyeo, Seocheon, and Taean; in 2018, in Hongseong and Yesan; and this year, in Cheonan, Gongju, Boryeong, Seosan, Dangjin, and Cheongyang, involving the replacement of aging pipelines, leak detection and repair, and the establishment of block systems.

The province set a project goal to achieve a regional water loss rate of 85% by investing a total project cost of 287.1 billion KRW in these 11 cities and counties.

Currently, five cities and counties that started the project in 2017 and 2018 and are in the mid-phase are saving 4.218 million tons (worth approximately 8.3 billion KRW) of domestic water annually due to improved water loss rates.

Additionally, the water loss rates by city and county are Buyeo 76.1%, Seocheon 84.9%, Taean 81.5%, Hongseong 67.4%, and Yesan 71.3%, indicating that they are approaching the target, according to the province.

The province also emphasized that by awarding 54% of the contract amount, 32.6 billion KRW, to local companies and utilizing local talent and firms for staffing and maintenance at each business office while promoting the Local Water Supply Modernization Project, it has also achieved an effect of revitalizing the local economy.

Furthermore, the province is realizing water welfare for local residents through faucet water quality inspections, indoor pipe cleaning services as part of resident welfare projects, and the distribution of water-saving devices by cities, counties, and K-water.

A provincial official stated, “Currently, the Boryeong Dam reservoir rate is maintained at 27.5%, which is at the interest stage, but it is expected to be raised to the caution stage within this month. It is necessary to prevent water shortages through water loss rate improvement via the Local Water Supply Modernization Project and water-saving practices by local residents.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.