- Water, Nature and Humankind
- K-water Focus ①
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2021
10 Top K-water News! -
What K-water related news items have attracted the most public attention in 2021?
K-water employees recall some of the events that made the top 10 news in 2021.
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1 K-water reaches the No.1 position in the management evaluation of public organizations for the first time in 7years
K-water received a grade ‘A’ in the 2020 management evaluation of public organizations. This is a unique noteworthy milestone in that, for the first time in 7years, K-water has reached the top spot among public enterprises. Along with being recognized for producing outstanding results in all areas of water management, K-water has faithfully implemented government policies, such as the innovation of our management system to better tackle climate change, and played a leading role in South Korea’s “New Deal” program. In fact, we have consolidated the management of dams and rivers, expanded the amount of floating PV power generation by introducing integrated water billing, and worked hard to promote the water industry.
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2 Construction of South Korea’s Largest Floating PV Power Plant at Hapcheon Dam
Last November, the construction of the 41MW grade Hapcheon Dam Floating PV power generation project was finally completed. The Hapcheon Dam solar power plant can generate electricity for use by 60,000people all year round. This is more than enough for the household uses of some 43,000residents of the Hapcheon-gun District. With an annual fine dust reduction of 30tons and GHG emissions reduction of 26,000tons, the environmental benefits are tremendous. The project’s most significant contribution is a new renewable energy business model in which local residents can participate and share the profits from the sale of the electricity generated by the plant.
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3 K-water has built the world’s first AI-based smart Water Purification Plant
K-water has successfully built the world’s first AI-based smart Water Purification Plant at the Hwaseong Water Purification Plant. This is not a traditional Water Purification Plant operated according to decisions made by humans.
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4 The decision has been taken to preserve the Petroglyphs of Bangudae 50years after their discovery.
Some 50years after the discovery of the Petroglyphs of Bangudae, for which the government is seeking listing as a UNESCO World Heritage site based on its preservation value as mankind's first whaling site, K-water has found a way of preserving the site.
Through a business agreement signed in November 2020 and the operation of a consultative body in 2021, K-water has conceived a plan for installing a floodgate at Sayeon Dam that would return the site to its original state before the construction of the dam. In October 2021, the plan was finalized through a resolution of the National Policy Coordination Committee.
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5 Establishment of South Korea’s first ‘2050 Carbon Neutrality Roadmap’ for Water Management
Last December, K-water established South Korea’s first ‘2050 Carbon Neutrality Roadmap’ for water management. Under its vision for ‘Going beyond Satisfying Carbon Neutrality and Leading the National Effort’, K-water has set itself the target of reducing estimated GHG emissions by 888% by 2050.
K-water has also selected 4 main strategies and 12 main execution agendas related to low carbon water management, energy conversion, the creation of carbon sinks, and eco-friendly hydrogen, and plans to contribute to the wider effort to achieve the national carbon neutrality goal. -
6 Revision of the K-water Act
On April 13, 2021 the “K-water Act” was enacted and took effect immediately. This law contains provisions designed to increase the statutory capital limitations and expand the regions where renewable energy businesses can be rolled out. This law increases by 50% the statutory capital limit from the current 10trillion won to 15trillion won. It also permits the launching of renewable energy businesses at the sites of all business facilities developed and managed by K-water, as well as in water management facilities and sites owned by the national government and municipal governments.
7 Completion of the Construction of the Busan EDC Smart Village
The construction of the Busan Smart Village was completed in December and its new residents have already begun to move in. The Busan Smart Village is the first project of the smart city building program, which is being positioned as a total solution capable of responding to two global megatrends, namely, Industry 4.0 and climate change. As the country’s first “smart technology living lab experience complex”, the Smart Village will be operated for 5years. By sharing with the general public the enhanced way of life that one can expect from living in the Smart Village, K-water intends to increase publicity and become a leader in the construction of eco-friendly future cities through the utilization of energy convergence, specialized technologies for water management, and platforms.
8 Taking Leadership of the K-water Ultra-pure Water Development Project to Support and Advance the National Water Industry
To secure the global leadership of Korean semiconductors, K-water has been pursuing the localization of technologies for producing and supplying ultra-pure water, which is essential for semiconductor chip manufacturing.
It succeeded in securing national funds for R&D(33.8billion won) and sources of demand, and held the groundbreaking ceremony for a pilot plant(2,400㎥/day) on November 16, 2021.
9 Restoring the Water Ecology with the Opening of the Nakdonggang Estuary Bank
In 2021, the pilot opening (rounds 1~4, April-November) of the Nakdonggang Estuary Bank was successfully carried out, with K-water playing a leading role in executing this important item of the national agenda.
The deployment of a company-wide collaboration system and the operation of its first pilot, which utilized K-water's market-leading integrated water management technology, were significant K-water achievements.
Moreover, by expanding the consolidated monitoring of water quality, water levels, and water ecology, K-water has laid a firm foundation for restoring the water ecology. By carrying out an ecology restoration project that involves the participation of the local community, K-water has improved the ecological value of the Nakdonggang River estuary and realized societal values
10 Donation Event Using the Sales Proceeds Generated by the Bangwoori Pop-up Store
Last summer, a pop-up store featuring the K-water mascot “Bangwoori” was opened at the company’s main headquarters. Bangwoori goods manufactured as summer vacation items were sold at cost, and a win-a-doll event was also held, allowing our employees to enjoy a new form of fun. The proceeds from the sales generated during the 5-day operation were donated for the creation of an urban forest.
