K-water "Achieving 'Good' Grade for All Water Sources by 2025"

On the 15th, Vision Declaration Ceremony for 'World's Best Comprehensive Water Platform Company' Held
"Innovation in Water Management through Digital Technology"... Presented 7 Core Tasks
"Expanded Support for Startups... Creating 250,000 Jobs by 2030"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] Korea Water Resources Corporation announced that by 2025, it will achieve a water quality rating of 'Good' or higher for all water sources managed by the corporation, and within 10 years, it will complete a water circulation management system based on 4th Industrial Revolution technologies.

On the 15th, Park Jae-hyun, president of the Water Resources Corporation, held a vision declaration ceremony at the headquarters in Daedeok-gu, Daejeon, pledging to leap forward as the "world's best comprehensive water platform company." On this day, he announced citizen-centered water management innovation plans in the presence of citizens representing river basins nationwide, as well as invited guests from the National Assembly, government, and academia.

The new vision, "World's Best Comprehensive Water Platform Company," embodies the corporation's commitment to water management innovation suited to an era where new standards and norms are emerging due to climate change, green and digital transitions, and social restructuring caused by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

To realize this, seven core tasks were presented: ▲ Our rivers where nature and people coexist ▲ Citizens who enjoy drinking tap water ▲ Carbon-neutral water management responding to the climate crisis ▲ Beneficial water management through digitalization ▲ Future water circulation cities that enhance quality of life ▲ Innovative water industry ecosystems that revitalize the economy ▲ Change and innovation management communicating with the public.

First, a river environment where nature and people coexist will be created. This includes ecological value-centered water environment solutions such as the creation of waterfront ecological belts and the introduction of smart management systems like real-time monitoring. The goal is to achieve a water quality rating of 'Good' or higher for all water sources managed by the corporation by 2025.

Additionally, to increase public trust in tap water, aging facilities throughout the entire water supply process?from water intake sources to faucets?will be improved. A smart management system based on the Internet of Things (IoT) will be established, and digital technologies will be utilized to provide real-time information and focus on preventive management.

Carbon-neutral eco-friendly water management responding to the climate crisis will also be realized. The corporation plans to significantly expand floating solar power and water thermal energy, reduce 1.19 million tons of greenhouse gases by 2030 through low-energy water management such as net-zero water treatment plants, distributed water supply, and nature-based water management.

By 2030, all dams and water treatment plants managed by the corporation will complete a water circulation management system based on 4th Industrial Revolution technologies, including facility safety management systems using Digital Twin technology and AI-based water treatment plants.

Furthermore, the corporation plans to present a model for future cities by combining water-specialized technologies with digital technologies. It will develop a future-type smart water city platform that integrates transportation, medical, and other data into a standard platform encompassing all water-specialized technologies, branding the currently under-construction Busan Eco Delta City as a global brand. The goal is to lead urban value innovation by expanding to 40 domestic and international cities by 2030.

Plans have also been set to create an innovative ecosystem by supporting startups in the water industry sector, discovering and nurturing unicorn companies, and creating 250,000 jobs by 2030.

Park Jae-hyun, president of the Water Resources Corporation, stated, "In the complex new normal era of climate change and digital transition, we must shift to water management centered on environmental and ecological values where nature and people coexist, and move toward an inclusive national water welfare society."

He added, "Together with the government, we will accelerate the Green New Deal projects to contribute to green transition and national economic revitalization, and by leading global water management standards, we will leap forward as the world's best comprehensive water platform company contributing to solving water issues worldwide."