Namhae-gun, Beyond Solving Water Shortage to Establishing the Foundation for the Underwater Natural Era

Selection of Aging Water Supply Pipeline Rehabilitation Project

Namhae-gun, Gyeongnam, which has been resolving chronic water shortages and achieving significant budget savings through the aging water supply maintenance project, has secured an additional 18 billion KRW budget to commence construction on unmaintained sections.

Following its selection for the ‘Follow-up Aging Pipeline Maintenance Project,’ Namhae-gun plans to invest 18 billion KRW over six years starting in 2024 to renovate the aging water supply networks in Nam-myeon and Mijo areas, designated as priority water quality management zones by the Ministry of Environment.

Namhae County Office.

This project will include ▲ pipeline maintenance totaling L=42.6 km ▲ establishment of a block system ▲ implementation of a maintenance management system ▲ and construction of a water supply network GIS.

Prior to this, Namhae-gun was selected for the national aging water supply maintenance project (modernization project) and invested 27.8 billion KRW over five years starting in 2018.

In five areas including Namhae-eup, the project implemented ▲ block system construction ▲ replacement of 45 km of aging pipes ▲ and introduction of a real-time leakage detection system, raising the water service rate from 31.5% to 85.8%.

Through the aging water supply maintenance project, Namhae-gun reduced annual water leakage by 2.66 million tons, saving 5.1 billion KRW in production costs.

Additionally, it was able to suppress water rate increases and lifted water supply restrictions in Namhae-eup in July 2020, 41 years after the initial water supply. Since 2022, it has successfully supplied local water to Seolcheon-myeon and Gohyeon-myeon areas.

Namhae-gun is resolving the chronic water shortage issues caused by its island geography by reinvesting the budget savings gained from improved water service rates into further facility maintenance.

In particular, proactive water supply infrastructure development is progressing smoothly in preparation for the expected growth in tourism following the opening of the Namhae?Undersea Tunnel.

Governor Jang Chung-nam stated, “The aging pipeline maintenance has not only improved the water service rate and saved budget but also resolved the urgent water issues that island municipalities inevitably face by providing clean and stable water supply. We expect remarkable achievements in terms of proactive infrastructure development to prepare for the opening of the Namhae?Yeosu Undersea Tunnel and large-scale private investment attraction.”

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