Gyeonggi Province Strengthens Groundwater Management...Expands Monitors and Promotes Restoration of Abandoned Wells

Gyeonggi Province is expanding its groundwater conservation and management monitors. It is also promoting support for the restoration of 560 abandoned groundwater wells to their original state and the installation of pollution prevention facilities.

The Gyeonggi Provincial Government announced on February 10, 2026, that it will invest 310 million won this year to expand the operation of groundwater conservation and management monitors to 11 cities and counties, and to support the costs for restoring 560 abandoned groundwater wells to their original state and installing pollution prevention facilities.

Groundwater conservation and management monitors are responsible for on-site inspections of abandoned wells (groundwater wells left unattended because their owners are unclear) and unregistered wells, as well as the management work of groundwater facilities. They are also in charge of tasks to protect groundwater resources within the province, including ongoing management of unregistered wells and patrols to prevent groundwater quality contamination.

Due to a shortage of personnel relative to the number of groundwater facilities, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government will support operating and management costs for 12 groundwater conservation and management monitors in 11 cities and counties, including Yongin, Hwaseong, and Namyangju. Last year, it supported 11 monitors in 9 cities and counties.

Gyeonggi Provincial Government

In connection with this, the province is also promoting a project to support the restoration of abandoned groundwater wells to their original state. Abandoned groundwater wells, which have been left unattended for a long time after development has ended, can cause groundwater contamination. Last year, with provincial funding, 91 such abandoned wells were restored to their original state.

This year, the project scope will be expanded to cover not only restoration to the original state but also support for the installation costs of pollution prevention facilities at 560 abandoned wells in 8 cities and counties, including Yongin.

To restore an abandoned well to its original state, the owner must be identified and consent must be obtained, and significant difficulties are arising in implementation because in many cases the owner is unknown.

The Gyeonggi Provincial Government plans to provide support so that, where the owner of an abandoned well is unclear, pollution prevention facilities (such as covers for abandoned wells) can be installed first to prevent groundwater contamination.

Kim Geunggi, Director of the Water Quality Management Division at the Gyeonggi Province Water Resources Headquarters, said, "We will do our utmost in groundwater management so that all residents of the province can use clean and safe groundwater."

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