Collecting and Using Flowing Rainwater... Seoul City Supports 90% of Installation Costs for 'Rainwater Piggy Banks'

Applicant Recruitment, Up to 20 Million KRW Support... 300 Million KRW This Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 28th that it is accepting applications for installation cost support for ‘Rainwater Savings Tanks,’ which collect clean rainwater discarded into the sewer system and use it for cleaning or landscaping water.

Selected applicants will receive 90% of the installation cost support (based on the standard installation cost) depending on the building type. The support amount is up to 2.4 million KRW for small personal rainwater utilization facilities and up to 20 million KRW for schools and apartment complexes. Applicants only need to bear 10% of the installation cost.

The ‘Rainwater Savings Tank’ (rainwater utilization facility) is a facility that collects rainwater falling on roofs and other areas to be used where needed. The collected rainwater can be used for various purposes such as watering flower beds or cleaning yards, which helps reduce tap water usage. Additionally, it reduces the load on the sewer system during rainfall, prevents water pollution, and alleviates urban environmental issues such as the heat island effect.

Since 2007, Seoul has been distributing rainwater savings tanks and has supplied 1,255 tanks so far. This year, with a budget of about 300 million KRW, it plans to support 59 small personal facilities and 9 facilities for schools and apartment complexes. Facility installers are required to use the system for five years, and if unused or dismantled without permission within five years, the subsidy may be reclaimed.

Citizens wishing to install the facility can apply by submitting the application documents to the relevant district office or the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Once confirmed as a support target, the installation cost will be subsidized.

Meanwhile, Seoul is strengthening education and promotional activities on rainwater reuse for students and residents of apartment complexes to raise awareness of the importance of rainwater in parallel with this project.

Kim Jae-gyeom, Director of the Water Circulation Policy Division of Seoul, said, “As water shortages worsen due to climate change, installing rainwater utilization facilities not only saves water but also contributes to environmental preservation. We hope for active participation from citizens who wish to use rainwater regularly.”

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