한국수자원공사 웹진 물, 자연 그리고 사람

Clean Water that Goes Global

Clean water and hygiene facilities are essential elements for maintaining a healthy life. According to the WTO, however, as many as 2.1 billion people around the world are deprived of access to clean water due to lack of appropriate water supply infrastructure. A poor drinking water environment can be a direct cause of water-borne diseases, accelerating the spread of infectious diseases and even causing nutrient imbalance.
In this context, K-water has been involved in overseas social contribution activities to help countries with poor water infrastructure cope with their water issues starting in Tajikistan in 2006. Over the past 20 years, K-water has reached out to 13 countries including Myanmar, Indonesia, Mongolia, and Solomon Islands, carrying out various activities including drilling and developing wells, installing water supply facilities, and improving hygiene conditions in those countries. Through these projects, K-water has contributed to building the foundation for local residents to acess and manage clean water on their own.

K-water's Steps Toward the Philippines

Nowadays, the Philippines is experiencing difficulty with water management caused by climate change and natural disasters, in addition to industrial water shortages and wastewater treatment issues facing the country due to reckless development in the process of pushing ahead with the national development agenda. Moreover, the nation's water supply coverage rate stands at as low as around 40%, which is below the regional average of East Asia. Moreover the amount of arsenic found in the groundwater in Pampanga, Philippines exceeds the WHO criteria due to volcanic ash deposition and ground subsidence, and local people rely on hand pumps or wells for drinking water supply; thus leaving them vulnerable to risks of water-borne diseases. Things are no better for local schools. Last September, K-water set up water purification systems and solar panels at five elementary schools in Pampanga; thus securing clean drinking water and supporting the stable management of water supply facilities in the province.
Simultaneously, 32 members of the K-water Volunteer Group set out for the Philippines on August 31. They visited four elementary schools in Pampanga, offered hygiene and safety education and hands-on experiences involving water purification processes, and engaged in cultural exchanges.

Sharing Heartwarming Times with Local Children

The first place the volunteers headed for was Cristo Rey Elementary School. When they entered the school grounds, their eyes widened in surprise as students warmly welcomed them with open arms. "I was so touched and thankful, and I felt an even greater sense of responsibility for the volunteer activities we had planned ahead there when the children eagerly welcomed and greeted us although we had never met them before," said Jieun Moon, manager at the SK Hynix Industrial Water Supply Office.
"I often went overseas on business while working at the Engineering Department, and each time local children were so friendly to us. I also have high expectations that the children will give us positive energy to take back home," said K-water head resercher Hohyun Lee as he waved back to the children and exchanged greetings.
The volunteers delivered kits containing snacks, food, and daily necessities to the children and repainted the old classroom walls with peeling paint, helping to improve the school environment. Despite the intense heat that make it impossible to wear gas masks, they devoted all their energy to their work, drenched in sweat.
Hygiene education was offered at the Lawi and Marisol elementary schools. The education program was aimed at enhancing children's awareness of the importance of healthy hygiene habits and safe water, beyond the importance of simply supplying clean water. Students learned how to wash their hands properly and witnessed firsthand how the muddy water turned clean and clear through the portable water purifiers they made themselves. When clean and clear water flowed out from the portable water purifiers, the children were filled with joy and amazement, bursting into exclamation.
On Day 4, they left for Yehyang Village, home to the Aeta people (indigenous people in the Philippines). The village, which was part of a military zone located in Capas City, has been experiencing groundwater pollution, water pipe aging, and other water-related problems as well as lack of educational infrastructure. "When I actually arrived in the village, I discovered that things were much older and more backward than expected. The water supply system in the village was in such poor condition that I thought the villagers were so vulnerable to water-borne diseases," said Manager Jungho Ahn at the Northwest Gyeonggi Office as he described his first impression of the village. The volunteers repaired aging water pipes and played traditional Korean games including stone knocking spinning top and folded paper card flipping, making special memories with the children.

Engraving Hope Moving Toward the Future

A donation ceremony was held at Guagua Elementary School on September 5, the last day of the volunteer program. The ceremony was attended by members of the K-water volunteer group, Guagua Elementary School Principal Marian Pineda, as well as faculty and students. "We expect the clean water and a pleasant environment to support our children's learning and growth firmly," Principal Pineda said, expressing her gratitude.
Through this support, more than 12,000 local students in the Philippines will now have access to clean water, and the frequency of class interruptions caused by power outages is expected to decrease significantly. After the donation ceremony, the volunteers took commemorative photos with the local students they had grown close to and exchanged heartfelt farewells.
K-water's commitment goes beyond volunteer activities as the company is also actively participating in major water infrastructure projects in the Philippines. Since 2014, K-water has been supporting long-term power stabilization and technology transfer through the Angat Dam Hydropower Modernization Project (246 MW). Through the New Clark City Integrated Water Management Project, K-water is building climate-resilient urban infrastructure by introducing the Philippines' first underground storage dam, AI-powered water treatment plant, and smart water network management technologies Based on its accumulated expertise and global network as a leading water company, K-water plans to continue creating a sustainable future through water.

Mini-Interview

Management
& Innovation
services
Department
Heeyeon Kim

K-water is also helping local communities become self-reliant through well-planned regional development projects in Korea. I hope K-water uses the experiences and capabilities it has accumulated in the field of overseas social contribution activities to help countries around the world secure access to clean water.

Soyanggang Dam Office
Kyongmin Kim

I came here hoping to be of some help. Now, I am going back home feeling so rewarded. Seeing children happy because of what we do for them makes me realize once again that K-water is making a difference in different parts of the world.

Gumi Office
Dongheon Lee

At first, I was worried that I might be too reserved when interacting with children living in underprivileged environments. But as time passed, I made so many memories with them that it was hard to say goodbye. One of the students gave me a doll as a gift and I think I'll be reminded of this moment every time I see it.

Another Story of Sharing
from the Solomon Islands

K-water is carrying out the Tina River Hydropower Development Project to ensure sustainable and stable energy supply on the Solomon Islands. Scheduled for completion in February 2028, this project is the first large-scale renewable energy initiative on the Solomon Islands and is expected to mark a significant turning point in achieving sustainable energy procurement. Alongside the hydropower project, K-water is implementing various overseas social contribution activities to foster mutual growth with local communities. One example is its support for the Guadalcanal Province Football Association through THL, a local corporation established for the hydropower project. As a result, the Guadalcanal provincial football team reached the semifinals of this year's Solomon Cup.
In addition, a donation event was held on May 12 near the Tina Hydropower Plant site, where boxes of clothing and shoes brought from Korea were delivered to residents of four villages in the Tina River basin. K-water also plans to continue exploring various ways to promote mutual growth with the Solomon Islands through cooperation linked to the Tina River Hydropower Development Project.

A Journey of Hope Led by Clean Water