Groundwater Facility Installation Now Possible in Water Supply Vulnerable Areas

Partial Amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the 'Jihasu Act' Approved at the Cabinet Meeting

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] In the future, it will be possible to install groundwater resource securing facilities such as underground dams in areas vulnerable to water supply.

The Ministry of Environment announced that the partial amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Groundwater Act, which includes this content, was approved at the Cabinet meeting on the 4th and is scheduled to be enforced from the 6th.

This amendment added areas vulnerable to water supply to the target areas for the installation and management of groundwater resource securing facilities. With the possibility of installing groundwater resource securing facilities in these areas, the Ministry of Environment expects that support projects for water supply vulnerable areas and the supply of high-quality groundwater will be possible.

Also, according to the amendment of the Groundwater Act, the subject of exemption from the groundwater usage charge was adjusted to be eligible for reduction, and the enforcement decree was revised to establish reduction criteria. The reduction criteria are stipulated to be determined by local governments through ordinances, considering ▲ the purpose of groundwater development and use ▲ the usage amount compared to the possible groundwater development amount ▲ the availability of alternative water sources ▲ the ability to bear the groundwater usage charge, so that the charge system can be operated according to regional characteristics.

Kim Dong-gu, Director of the Water Integration Policy Division at the Ministry of Environment, said, "The Ministry of Environment has been promoting free water quality inspections, groundwater well improvements, and public well supply projects for water supply vulnerable areas that use groundwater as drinking water due to the lack of tap water supply," adding, "With this amendment enabling groundwater resource securing in these areas, the last piece of the puzzle for support projects for water supply vulnerable areas has been put in place, which will contribute to improving the water welfare of the people."

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