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K-water News
2022. Apr
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K-water completes the pilot project to improve small-sized water facilities in Ansapjae, Inje County
On March 3, K-water held an event to celebrate the completion of the ‘Pilot Project to Improve Small-scale Water Facilities in the Village of Ansapjae, Inje County, Gangwon Province’.
The Pilot Project to Improve Small-scale Water Facilities is a part of the Pilot Project for a Decentralized Water Supply System that K-water has been promoting with the Ministry of Environment in order to provide inclusive water welfare. This project aims to supply safe and reliable tap water by improving small-sized water facilities that are vulnerable to changes in water quality. In the past, about thirty households in Ansapjae used underground water after independent disinfection treatment. Converting it to a local water supply was not easy, and the facility was in urgent need of improvement in order to respond to changes in water quality.
In cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and Inje County, K-water improved the facility by introducing a customized water treatment process and real-time remote monitoring and control system in August 2021. K-water now plans to create and distribute guidelines on the improvement of small-sized water facilities that can be applied to all vulnerable facilities nationwide in connection with this project. -
K-water supports east coast areas affected by forest fire
On March 8, K-water held an emergency response meeting at the Han River Basin Headquarters in response to the wildfires on the east coast and carried out various emergency recovery aid activities such as donating fund to mitigate the damages and reducing water bills at the company level.
Prior to this, K-water first donated some 70,000 bottles of drinking water to the areas damaged by forest fires from March 5 to 7. K-water also promoted reductions or exemptions of water bills by consulting with the local governments of the affected areas, provided technical support to restore vulnerable water supply facilities, inspected water quality by utilizing its expertise as a water management institution, and dispatched an employee volunteer group to help with the restoration activities.
In addition, K-water plans to donate KRW 100million to the victims of the disaster-stricken area through the Korea Disaster Relief Association, urgently dispatch two laundry vehicles to assist victims with washing and bathing, provide seedlings for forest restoration, and pre-purchase local specialties.
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K-water signs a business agreement for win-win development in the water industry with Korea Conformity Laboratories(KCL)
On March 8, K-water signed a business agreement at the Hangang River Basin Headquarters for win-win development in the water industry with KCL.
The aim of this agreement is to promote the mutual development of the national water industry and the two parties by cooperating on technology development, tests, and certification to improve water management based on their respective expertise and technology. The areas of cooperation include technology exchange to advance the analysis of tap water quality; the improvement of water treatment facilities’ performance to strengthen the safety of tap water; cooperation on technology development aimed at building the core infrastructure for high-purity industrial water, such as ultrapure water; and verification of the performance and safety of solar modules in order to realize carbon-neutral water management.
Starting with this agreement, the two parties will establish a cooperative system to create synergy and promote immediate cooperation, improve public water services, and enhance the water industry by reflecting changes in water management conditions and the related policy environment. -
K-water signs an agreement for academia-industry cooperation with Hankyong National University
On March 11, K-water and Hankyong National University signed an agreement for academia-industry cooperation to improve the Korean water industry and nurture human resources.
Under the terms of the agreement, the two parties agreed to the need to preemptively nurture talented human resources to ensure the sustainable growth of public institutions and academia and the water industry amid the climate crisis.
The agreement encompasses exchanges of technology and information, and mutual support to revitalize international cooperation such as ODA; education, training, and employment support to nurture talents in the water industry; joint activities and exchanges to advance the water industry; the mutual use of education and research infrastructures; and exchanges of safety-related leading technologies, information and personnel to build capacity in safety.
This agreement will enable both parties to share intellectual property and R&D resources, promote human and material exchanges, and strengthen cooperation in various fields, such as fostering convergence-type talents and international ODA cooperation.
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K-water launches Digital GARAM+, a digital twin water management platform
On March 11, K-water held a launching event at its headquarters to unveil Digital GARAM⁺, a digital twin water management platform. The event featured a special lecture on the digital twin by Professor Choi Jae-hong of Gangneung-Wonju National University, an introduction to Digital GARAM⁺, and a demonstration of the decision-making process for the operation of dams in the event of a forecast of flooding.
Digital GARAM⁺ was created to promote K-water’s transition to a digital-centered water management system, after recognizing the limitations of the conventional system following the widespread flooding in August 2020. Digital GARAM⁺ was built by combining Industry 4.0 technology such as the digital twin to respond to uncertainties caused by the climate crisis and to improve the efficiency of dam operation and decision-making. The pilot operation of this water management platform will be launched in the Seomjin River Basin.
This integrated water management platform is expected to prevent water disasters by collecting real-time weather data on water management, such as dam operation, and to manage water resources safely and efficiently by improving accuracy in decision-making. -
K-water establishes its Southeast Asia Cooperation Headquarters in Malaysia
On March 17, K-water held a ceremony to celebrate the opening of its Southeast Asia Cooperation Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, which it has established to leap into an integrated global water platform and enter the water industry of Southeast Asia, the new southern region.
K-water has established the Southeast Asia Cooperation Headquarters in order to discover overseas projects in Southeast Asia, reinforce support for the entry of Korean water companies into overseas markets, and establish a control tower for ongoing projects. As the first overseas regional office, the Southeast Asia Cooperation Headquarters is expected to serve as a platform and foothold that will enable K-water to identify water-related business needs and support the commercialization of Korean water companies.
So far, K-water has carried out twenty-three projects in ten countries, including the Karian water supply project in Indonesia and the Angat hydroelectric power generation project in the Philippines, thereby taking the lead in solving global water issues and supporting Korean water companies’ entry into the overseas market.
