'Songtan Sangsu Source Protection Area Lifted After 45 Years'

Gyeonggi Province lifted the 'Songtan Water Source Protection Area,' which spans Pyeongtaek City and Yongin City, on the 23rd. This is the first time in 45 years since it was designated as a protection area in 1979.

Gyeonggi Province announced on the same day that it has removed a total of 3.859㎢ from the water source protection area, including 2.287㎢ in Bongnam, Masan, Dongcheon, and Eunsan-ri in Jinwi-myeon, Pyeongtaek City, and 1.572㎢ in Bongmyeong and Jinmok-ri in Namsa-eup, Yongin City.

The Songtan Water Source Protection Area was designated in 1979 following the establishment of the Songtan Water Purification Plant to supply tap water to the Pyeongtaek area.

This removal is due to the fact that the site of the 'Yongin Idong-Namsa Advanced Semiconductor National Industrial Complex' partially overlapped with the Songtan Water Source Protection Area.

Samsung Electronics plans to invest 360 trillion won in the national industrial complex to build six semiconductor production lines (fabs).

Sungtan Water Source Protection Area Map. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

Earlier, on the 22nd of last month, Pyeongtaek City abolished the Songtan Water Purification Plant facilities and applied to Gyeonggi Province for the removal of the water source protection area.

The Songtan Water Purification Plant supplied 15,000 tons of domestic water daily to Pyeongtaek citizens, but since there is surplus domestic water supplied through the wide-area water pipe from Paldang Dam, there will be no inconvenience due to the abolition.

With the removal of the Songtan Water Source Protection Area, regulations on the 'factory establishment restriction and approval areas' around the protection area are also expected to be lifted within this week.

The factory establishment restriction and approval areas are ▲Pyeongtaek 13.090㎢ ▲Yongin 62.858㎢ ▲Anseong 18.790㎢.