Namyangju-si Joan-myeon Environmental Maintenance Zone Additional Designation... Gathering Residents' Opinions

Namyangju-si, Resident Inspection... Expansion by 62,300㎡
Allowing Extension of Farmhouses in Water Source Protection Area upon Designation
Easing Restrictions on Use Changes for Retail Stores and Restaurants

Gyeonggi Province is conducting a public inspection for residents regarding the proposal to additionally designate 129 parcels of land, totaling 62,300㎡, in Joan-myeon, Namyangju City, within the Paldang Water Source Protection Area as an Environmental Maintenance Zone.

Paldang Watershed Protection Area. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

An Environmental Maintenance Zone is a designated area within a water source protection zone where wastewater and sewage can be treated by public sewage treatment facilities. When designated as an Environmental Maintenance Zone within a water source protection area, more relaxed regulations are applied compared to the water source protection zone, allowing for expansions of farmhouses or changes of use to retail stores, restaurants, and the like.

The Joan-myeon area in Namyangju City has been subject to overlapping regulations due to its designation as a water source protection area since 1975, as well as being part of a development restriction zone and a special water quality conservation area. However, this measure is expected to allow some exercise of property rights.

The public inspection will be held from the 19th until January 2nd of next year at the Water Supply and Sewerage Division of the Gyeonggi Provincial Water Resources Headquarters and the Environmental Policy Division of Namyangju City Hall. If there are any opinions, they will be reviewed additionally within 30 days and announced.

Yoon Deok-hee, Director of the Gyeonggi Provincial Water Resources Headquarters, stated, “Since the designation of Environmental Maintenance Zones began in 2009, the water quality of the Paldang water source has been stably maintained at the level of ‘Good’ from ‘Very Good’ based on the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) standard. The designation of Environmental Maintenance Zones is a minimal measure to improve the living environment of residents living in the water source protection area, and we will strive to expand it within the scope where a balance between regulatory relaxation and water quality preservation is achieved.”