Yeongdeungpo District Achieves Zero Flood Damage for Three Consecutive Years... Proactive Flood Prevention Measures Continue This Year

Yeongdeungpo District in Seoul, led by Mayor Choi Hogwon, has recorded zero flood damage over the past three years and is once again preparing for heavy summer rains this year. The district is implementing proactive flood prevention measures, including maintenance of 50 kilometers of sewage pipelines and 43,000 rainwater drains.

Choi Hogwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo District, cleaning rainwater drains with residents. Provided by Yeongdeungpo District Office.

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The district has designated the period from March to June, before the rainy season, as an intensive maintenance period. During this time, the district will focus on removing sediment and trash from rainwater drains, as well as cleaning out accumulated debris from sewage pipelines, especially in flood-prone areas such as major thoroughfares, side streets, and traditional markets. Sections with a history of flooding or repeated drainage complaints will be prioritized for maintenance.

The district is also expanding flood prevention facilities. As of last year, 781 portable flood barriers were installed in 38 locations, including underground parking lots of large buildings. In addition, 1,589 flood barriers and 2,293 backflow preventers were installed in semi-basement homes. This year, the district plans to supply an additional 1,600 flood barriers and 3,560 backflow preventers.

Flood control infrastructure is also being strengthened. The "multi-warning system" installed last year on the Anyangcheon stream allows for real-time monitoring of water levels and remote closure of stream access when levels rise. In two flood-prone areas, additional road level gauges have been installed to provide real-time risk alerts and warnings.

Mid- to long-term drainage improvements are also underway. In Yeongdeungpo-dong, construction is in progress for a new rainwater pumping station with a discharge capacity of 1,050 tons per minute and a maximum storage capacity of 7,000 tons. The Shingil-dong rainwater pumping station will expand its storage capacity from the current 10,000 cubic meters to 13,800 cubic meters. The district aims to handle heavy rainfall of up to 100 millimeters per hour.

Resident participation programs are also in operation. The "Rainwater Drain Cleaning Day" was held 108 times in 18 neighborhoods last year, with 3,341 residents participating to clean 5,861 rainwater drains. This year, the program will be held once a month from March to October.

Mayor Choi Hogwon stated, "With heavy rains becoming more frequent due to climate change, advance preparation is more important than ever." He added, "We will do our utmost to protect the lives and property of our residents through thorough management of drainage facilities and a swift response system."

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