Clogged Rainwater Drains Causing Flooding... What About This Monsoon Season?

As the nationwide monsoon season is expected to begin simultaneously from the weekend, concerns about flood damage are also increasing.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on the 23rd, a low-pressure system is developing over the stationary front, and the monsoon season is expected to start nationwide from the 25th to the 27th.

On the 24th, up to 40mm of rain will fall in some parts of Gangwon and Jeju from late afternoon. The monsoon season will begin in the southern regions and Jeju on the 25th. The expected rainfall amount has not yet been announced.

Last August, while a 'water bomb' of 100mm per hour poured down in southern Seoul, a man near Gangnam Station in Seoul is clearing a clogged drainage channel with his bare hands. Photo by online community

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As the full-fledged monsoon season approaches, concerns about flooding are growing. During last summer, which recorded "unprecedented heavy rain," many flood damages occurred around Gangnam Station in Seoul due to rainwater drains being clogged with cigarette butts, fallen leaves, and various trash.

As roads were flooded in many places, citizens took it upon themselves to clean the rainwater drains with their bare hands. In August last year, when a "water bomb" of 100mm per hour poured down, roads near Gangnam Station in Seoul were flooded, and a man was captured opening the rainwater drain cover and cleaning the drainage channel with his bare hands, earning him the nickname "Gangnam Station Superman."

Since then, rainwater drains have been identified as a major cause of flooding. The rainwater drains installed on roads are meant to send rainwater to sewage pipes to prevent flooding, but when trash fills the drains, backflow and other phenomena occur, worsening flood damage.

With the growing importance of managing rainwater drains, the Sewerage Act amendment was passed in December last year. The amendment stipulates that "prevention of flooding caused by sewer overflow" is the responsibility of the state and local governments. It also mandates flood risk analysis and maintenance and management of sewer pipes in flood risk zones when establishing the basic sewerage maintenance plan.

Han Hwa-jin, Minister of Environment, stated on the 23rd during an inspection of flood relief status around Gangnam Station in Seoul, "Local governments now have the obligation to maintain sewer pipes such as rainwater drains," adding, "Fines should also be imposed." The amended Sewerage Act will take effect on the 28th.

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