Having emerged as one of the major global issues, “water risks” are considered as important as carbon emissions. Water risks include record rainfalls, storms, droughts, and depletion of underground water resulting from drastic climate change. These risks can cause pollution levels of water flowing into water purification plants to fluctuate widely, which in turn directly impacts the lives of ordinary citizens. This will also change the water management environment. At this juncture, K-water is expected to take a new approach to tap water management in order to produce and supply tap water stably and reliably.
In synch with the grand digital transformation, K-water is actively integrating the innovative technologies of the 4th Industrial Revolution. To this end, K-water has made plans to introduce 4th Industrial Revolution technologies including AI and digital twin throughout the entire process of tap water production and supply so as to create a water supply system that supplies clean and safe water for all citizens to drink. As part of these efforts, K-water has launched an AI water purification plant where key processes are run automatically with the use of big data-based AI. The plant is also characterized by next-generation technologies including energy management proactive accident prevention based on facility assessment and intelligent video monitoring.

For example, solids are removed from the water and suspended particles are settled at the bottom at the settling reservoir. It is important to discharge sediments regularly according to the level of turbidity. The AI water purification plant can automatically estimate the amount of sediments and determine the discharge cycle on its own. AI is also used to mix chemicals in the water for purification. In addition, the AI purification plant is capable of keeping the water quality consistent by optimizing the amount of chemicals to mix in the water. As such, the AI water purification plant can secure a stable supply of water by minimizing human errors even in the event of sudden changes to water quality and water management environment. The plant can also increase energy use efficiency by monitoring, analyzing, and controlling power use in real time, automatically detecting signs of abnormality by monitoring and analyzing the facilities in real time and securing the golden time for response and recovery by identifying facility accidents as they occur based on constant monitoring of surveillance videos.

K-water successfully launched an AI-based operation system at the Hwaseong Water Purification Plant in April 2022. As the first metropolitan water supply facility in Korea that has introduced ICT and AI technology across the water production and supply process as part of the digital transformation, the Hwaseong AI Water Purification Plant can detect and respond immediately to algal blooms caused by heat waves and rapidly increasing inflow of pollutants due to heavy rains. It also saves energy by accurately predicting water demand for different time slots of the day. It can identify potential problems with facilities even before they actually break down so that preventive actions can be taken and repair and maintenance cost can be saved. In recognition of these achievements, the Hwaseong AI Water Purification Plant became the world’s first water management facility to be listed as a Global Lighthouse. Such listing is particularly meaningful because it is the first public water service organization to be listed as such. Moreover, the plant was hailed as the most advanced of all Global Lighthouse companies listed by the WEF. The other Lighthouse companies have used AI mainly for unit process automation or error detection, but the Hwaseong AI plant has applied AI throughout the entire process and created a multi decision-making model that serves as the control tower, which makes the plant uniquely stand out.
Winning the Global Lighthouse Award has proven Korea’s superior water management technology in the global community, and it is expected to help the AI water purification plant become a global brand. By having the plant globally recognized as a super gap technology, K-water may potentially reverse the global market trend led by the US and China.

K-water is planning to introduce the globally recognized AI-based water purification technology at 43 metropolitan water purification plants across the country, and this is expected to save around 9.5 billion won in production cost each year. K-water has taken the initiative to create ISO standards for its AI water purification plant in an effort to be a leader in core water management technology at home and abroad. ISO standards are set and distributed by ISO to provide global benchmarks for different industries. Once the standards are approved, Korea will be able to take the lead in designing AI water purification platforms and establishing other technological standards. As a result, our AI water purification technology is expected to gain a competitive edge in the global market. The AI water purification technology will not only serve as a solid foundation to secure a stable supply of clean, safe water but also place K-water in a better position to compete in the global digital technology war.