Up to 120 Million KRW Support for Installation Costs of Automatic Water Quality Measuring Devices for Small and Medium Wastewater Treatment Companies

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] On the 16th, the Ministry of Environment announced that it will subsidize 60% of the related costs for small and medium-sized wastewater treatment companies installing or operating Water Quality Automatic Measuring Devices (TMS), with 40% covered by national funds and 20% by local funds.

TMS is a remote monitoring system that continuously measures and manages the concentration and amount of pollutants discharged from business sites emitting water pollutants.

The eligible small and medium-sized enterprises for subsidies are those required to install TMS under the Water Environment Conservation Act and classified as enterprises under the Framework Act on Small and Medium Enterprises.

The subsidy amount covers 60% of the actual costs within the standard amount (installation cost of 200 million KRW and operating cost of about 50 million KRW), with a maximum of 120 million KRW for installation and about 30 million KRW for operation.

Following the amendment and enforcement of the Water Environment Conservation Act in November last year, which expanded the scope of TMS installation, the Ministry of Environment allocated a subsidy budget (approximately 2.6 billion KRW in national funds) to reduce the economic burden on companies.

Additionally, the ministry surveyed the demand for TMS installation and operation costs from local governments nationwide and identified the actual costs of water quality automatic measuring devices installed and operated in the field. Based on this, it is expected that about 20 small and medium-sized enterprises will receive subsidies for installation and about 40 for operation this year.

Small and medium-sized enterprises seeking subsidies must first submit an application form to the relevant local government to confirm eligibility. For installation costs, companies should first install the measuring devices and then apply to the local government with documents proving the installation costs and the subsidy application form. For operating costs, applications should be submitted with proof of operating expenses paid in the last month of each half-year period (June and December).

When the local government receives the application form for subsidy eligibility, it will review the qualifications and notify the applicant within 15 days of receipt whether they are eligible. Selected businesses must commence construction for device installation within four months of notification. If unable to start due to unavoidable circumstances, they must submit the reasons for the delay and an installation plan to the head of the local government.

Park Jae-hyun, Director of the Water Environment Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Environment, said, "We expect the support for the installation and operation of water quality automatic measuring devices to somewhat reduce the burden on small and medium-sized enterprises," adding, "We will continue to strengthen management to secure highly reliable measurement data."

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