Seoul City Establishes Korea's First 'Rainwater Pump Station Smart Rainfall Analysis System'

Additional Installation of Rain Gauge and Inflow Meter to Existing Pump Station Water Level Meter ... Response to Localized Heavy Rain
Effect Analysis After Pilot Operation at 'Gaebong1 Pump Station' in September, 5 More Sites Added in Second Half

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Seoul Metropolitan Government is establishing a system that can quickly respond to localized heavy rainfall by analyzing the amount of rainwater flowing into rainwater pumping stations and rainfall data.

On the 24th, Seoul announced that it will pilot the country's first 'Smart Rainfall Analysis System for Rainwater Pumping Stations' next month at the Gaebong 1 Pumping Station in Guro-gu, ahead of the autumn typhoon season.

Rainwater pumping stations are critical infrastructure that forcibly discharge rainwater into rivers to prevent flooding in low-lying areas during the rainy season or heavy downpours. Currently, they operate based on the water level inside the pumping station.

The Gaebong 1 Pumping Station is a large facility that forcibly drains rainwater from Mokgamcheon Stream into Anyangcheon Stream. Located at the boundary between Seoul and Gyeonggi Province where the two streams meet, it requires active pump operation.

The system being developed by the city is an advanced system that comprehensively analyzes three types of data: the water level inside the pumping station, rainfall amount, and the volume of rainwater inflow along the pumping station’s sewer pipes. To achieve this, rain gauges and flow meters will be newly installed in addition to the existing water level gauges.

Currently, rainwater flows into the pumping station and when a certain water level is reached, the pumps operate, which takes about 20 to 40 minutes from rainfall to actual operation. With the new system, it will be possible to track and analyze real-time rainfall trends from the moment rain begins.

Seoul plans to analyze the system’s performance and effectiveness through pilot operation, then install it additionally at five pumping stations located along national rivers in the second half of this year, with plans for further expansion in the future.

The data accumulated by this system will also be usefully utilized as verification and calibration data for future pumping station installation and capacity expansion designs.

Previously, Seoul significantly improved its flood control management system by displaying real-time control status of major rivers and roads and building monitoring screens optimized for mobile environments, actively supporting flood prevention activities of city and district employees.

Choi Jin-seok, Director of the Water Circulation Safety Bureau of Seoul, said, "We are upgrading the flood control management system in response to rainfall patterns where large amounts of rain fall locally in a short period due to recent atmospheric instability. Once the Smart Rainfall Analysis System for Rainwater Pumping Stations is established, we will be able to operate rainwater pumping stations in a way that proactively responds to climate change."

Operation of Smart Rainfall Analysis System at Stormwater Pump Station

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