Pyeongtaekho Designated as 'Priority Management Reservoir' by Ministry of Environment Due to Worsening Water Quality

Pyeongtaekho Designated as a 'Priority Management Reservoir'
Comprehensive Government Support for Water Quality Improvement and Ecological Restoration

Pyeongtaekho, located in Pyeongtaek City, Gyeonggi Province, where the need for systematic management has been growing due to worsening water quality, has been designated as a 'Priority Management Reservoir'.

A panoramic view of Pyeongtaekho, selected as a 'Priority Management Reservoir' by the Ministry of Environment. Provided by Pyeongtaek City

Pyeongtaek City announced on July 8 that Pyeongtaekho was selected as a Priority Management Reservoir by the Ministry of Environment on July 7.

Once designated as a 'Priority Management Reservoir', it becomes possible to implement focused government-level measures such as water quality improvement, restoration of aquatic ecosystems, and enhancement of waterfront recreational functions. The city assessed that this designation marks a new turning point for water quality improvement at Pyeongtaekho, which had faced urgent environmental challenges due to large-scale industrial complex development and water quality deterioration, by enabling systematic and concentrated management at the national level.

Pyeongtaekho is a large reservoir with a total storage capacity of about 100 million tons, completed in 1973. It collects water from a total of 51 national and local rivers, including Hwanggujicheon, Osancheon, Jinwicheon, and Anseongcheon, serving as an important water resource for approximately 4 million people across 10 cities in the basin area.

However, due to rapid recent development, Pyeongtaekho is barely maintaining the fourth grade for agricultural water use. Especially in summer, algae blooms and odor problems have become factors that worsen the living environment for nearby residents. In addition, the development of large-scale industrial complexes in the surrounding area is expected to result in significant inflows of wastewater, further increasing the need for water quality management.

Previously, in February last year, Pyeongtaek City requested that Pyeongtaekho be designated as a Priority Management Reservoir under the Water Environment Conservation Act, and after a review process lasting one year and six months, the final designation was made.

With this designation, the city has set a goal to improve the water quality of Pyeongtaekho from the current fourth grade for agricultural water use to the third grade for waterfront recreation by 2030. To achieve this, the city plans to establish and submit to the Ministry of Environment a variety of measures by next year, including ecological river restoration projects, construction of water purification wetlands, installation of total phosphorus treatment facilities, and installation of public livestock manure treatment facilities.

Pyeongtaek City Mayor Jung Jangseon stated, "The designation as a Priority Management Reservoir is an important national decision for the local community and the environment," adding, "We will work together with the Ministry of Environment, Gyeonggi Province, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea Rural Community Corporation, and local governments in the basin to turn Pyeongtaekho into a clear and clean lake."