Seoul to Invest 78 Billion Won in New and Expanded Water Reservoirs to Improve Water Supply

Investment to Stabilize Water Pressure and Respond to Supply Interruptions

Expansion of Maebongjae, Bonghyeon, and Geoma Reservoirs

Gradual Enlargement of Reservoirs Planned Through 2040

Seoul City will invest 78 billion won to expand and build new water reservoirs. This initiative aims to ensure a stable supply of tap water and maintain water distribution in situations such as power outages or water supply interruptions.

On March 11, Seoul City announced plans to implement a water reservoir expansion and new construction project worth 78 billion won to improve the water supply environment for 69,000 households in the Seocho, Gwanak, Dongjak, and Songpa districts.

Location and Plan of Seoul City Water Reservoir Expansion and Construction Project. Seoul City

A water reservoir is a facility that stores tap water produced at purification plants in high-altitude water tanks and supplies it using gravitational force. Currently, there are 102 water reservoirs in operation in Seoul, providing stable water pressure of Arisu to 4.5 million households.

In emergencies such as power outages or water supply interruptions, the stored water can be used to maintain water supply for a certain period. However, it is essential to secure a storage capacity that enables supply for at least 12 hours.

Taking into account the aging of reservoirs and insufficient storage capacity, the city is moving to construct new facilities and expand existing ones. This year, Seoul plans to invest a total of 78 billion won in three key projects to enhance water supply stability in Seocho, Gwanak, Dongjak, and Songpa: the construction of the new Maebongjae Reservoir, the reconstruction of the existing Goma Reservoir, and the expansion of the Bonghyeon Reservoir.

The Maebongjae Reservoir will be newly constructed in the Seocho district with a capacity of approximately 9,000 tons, with basic design and relevant permitting procedures scheduled for 2026. The Goma Reservoir, located in the Songpa district, will have a capacity of about 65,000 tons; following the establishment of the basic plan this year, the old reservoir will be demolished and rebuilt. The expansion of the Bonghyeon Reservoir, serving the Gwanak and Dongjak regions, will add approximately 35,000 tons of capacity. Design will be completed by December this year, and construction is scheduled to begin in 2027.

The Mia and Kkachisan reservoir construction projects, totaling 43 billion won, began last year and are currently in progress. Upon completion, the water supply environment for about 42,000 households in Suyu-dong and Samyang-dong of Gangbuk District, as well as Sadang-dong of Dongjak District, is expected to improve. In Gangbuk District's Suyu-dong area, the construction of the Mia Reservoir is underway, and once the 5,000-ton facility is built, water pressure for approximately 25,000 households in Suyu 1-dong and Samyang-dong will be improved and a stable water supply will be maintained even in emergencies.

According to the ‘Seoul 2040 Water Supply Maintenance Master Plan,’ the city plans to gradually expand infrastructure by constructing six new reservoirs and expanding five existing ones by 2040, including ongoing projects. Once all these reservoirs are completed, an additional 30,000 tons of storage capacity will be secured, significantly enhancing water supply stability throughout Seoul.

Joo Yongtae, head of the Seoul Arisu Headquarters, stated, “Expanding water reservoirs is an essential infrastructure investment for a stable tap water supply,” adding, “We will continue to reinforce the stable water supply system to minimize inconvenience to citizens even during emergencies such as power outages or pipeline accidents.”

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