State of Swerage Systems and Prospects in Korea

우리 나라의 하수도현황과 전망

This study reviewed the current status and problems of sewerage system in Korea and then proposed possible methods to correct the problems. Also, evaluation of future development in sewerage system is included. It can be summarized as follows : 1. Investment in sewerage system is relatively low . 0.23% of GNP, Considering that the investment portion is 0.35% in OECD and 0.63% in Japan, it should be increased further. 2. The reasons wily the investment in sewerage system is low can be ' (1) Low priority is given to the investment in sewerage system. Local government builds and operates its own wastewater treatment plant. Local government as well as residents prefer to invest their money in roadwork, housing and parks to in wastewater treatment facilities because of greater investment effects. (2) Besides capital investment, more maintenance cost is needed for sewerage system. Proper operation of wastewater treatment facilities requires a well-trained operator. Because of public conception that operation of wastewater treatment facility is a dirty job, it is difficult to find a well-trained operator. (3) It is difficult to estimate the effect of sewerage system (4) Cost required to build and maintain wastewater treatment facility should be paid by people, who benefit from the facility. People to benefit are sometimes different from people to pay. 3. Advanced treatment is necessary to protect the bay aura and raw water source as well as to prevent eutrophication of lakes and ponds. 4. Wastewater treatment facility were mainly build in big cities during the decade of 1980. Followings should be solved first to expand the facilities. (1) Rapid repair and construction of sewer. (2) Technical development of wastewater treatment . Prevention of efficient and economical wastewater . Development of efficient and economical wastewater treatment techniques . Development of high-efficiency treatment using bioreactor . Reuse of wastewater treatment plant effluent (3) Sludge treatment and disposal . Composting of sludge cakes . Development of techniques to reduce the volume of sludge cake : incineration and reuse of sludge ash and slag. (4) Utilization of wastewater treatment facilities . Construction of community parks or sports families(ie, on the tops of the covered aeration tanks and sedimention tanks) Construction of wastewater treatment facilities under ground and of parking facilities and community parks above ground. (5) Education of wastewater treatment personal.