Total Project Cost of 41.1 Billion Won, with 20.5 Billion Won Secured in Government Funding
Renovation of 52.7 Kilometers of Aging Water Pipelines by 2031
Targeting 85% Water Flow Rate, Full Commitment to Stable Tap Water Supply
Sokcho City in Gangwon Province has been selected as a new project site for the Ministry of Environment's Old Water Supply System Improvement Project for 2026.
Lee Byungsun, mayor of Sokcho City, conducting a meeting to inspect water supply facilities in preparation for the safe dry season for citizens last September. Provided by Sokcho City
As a result, Sokcho City will secure 20.5 billion won in government funding out of the total project cost of 41.1 billion won, and plans to accelerate the creation of a stable tap water supply environment.
The Old Water Supply System Improvement Project is a national initiative led by the Ministry of Environment since 2017 to address leakage and water quality issues caused by aging water pipelines and to ensure the supply of clean and safe water.
This improvement project will be carried out over six years, from 2026 to 2031.
The project aims to achieve a water flow rate of 85% in the target areas.
Each year, 52.7 kilometers of old water pipelines in the areas of Jangsa, Nohak, Joyang, Cheongho, Daepo, Seorak, Domun, and Gyodong will be renovated, with an annual leakage reduction target of approximately 900,000 tons.
Since March 2018, Sokcho City has implemented the "Local Water Supply Modernization Project (Old Water Supply System Improvement Project)," renovating 25 kilometers of old pipelines in Jangsa, Yeongrang, Dongmyeong, Jungang, Cheonghak, and Gyodong.
This effort increased the water flow rate in those regions from 59.3% to 92.4%, resulting in an annual leakage reduction of about 1.3 million tons.
Sokcho City has also worked to secure water sources by developing rock wells and constructing underground dams to address chronic water shortages caused by the topographical characteristics of Ssangcheon, the city's main water source.
Lee Byungsun, mayor of Sokcho City, conducting a meeting to inspect water supply facilities in preparation for the safe dry season for citizens last September. Provided by Sokcho City
However, the city has determined that simply securing more water sources has its limits. Therefore, it plans to shift to a water supply management system focused on improving the water flow rate to address the issue of insufficient raw water.
This approach is expected to significantly help establish a stable and clean tap water supply by renovating pipelines that have been in use for over 20 years. It is also anticipated to greatly contribute to preventing safety incidents such as ground subsidence (sinkholes) caused by pipeline leakage.
Lee Byungseon, mayor of Sokcho, stated, "A stable supply of tap water is directly linked to the healthy lives of our citizens, so we will do our utmost to ensure that citizens can use clean water with peace of mind through continuous and proactive management of the water supply network."
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