More recently, MOE established the Comprehensive Water Quality Management Measures for the Four Major Rivers between 1998 and 2000. The four major rivers are the Han-gang, Nakdong-gang, Geum-gang, and Yongsan/Sumjin-gang, which meet the water needs of more than 40 million Korean people. Major policies include the total water pollution load management system, riparian buffer zones, land purchasing, a water use charge and resident support measures.
To ensure the smooth implementation of these measures through legal backing, the Act on Watershed Management and Community Support was enacted for each of the rivers between 1999 and 2002. These measures and acts were developed through more than 420 discussions and public hearings with stakeholders including residents, local governments, and experts over a period of five years from 1998 to 2005. With 11.1 trillion Won (9.65 billion USD) in total investments, the overarching goals are to raise the quality of water resources to Grade 1 or 2 according to the Korean index and to raise the proportion of the population connected to sewerage facilities to 85.5% by 2006.
The Total Water Pollution Load (TPWL) management system contributes to the sustainable management of water resources by setting a target water quality, which has been differentially set based on the results of an environmental survey conducted in each river basin and in consideration of the specific water use. This is in direct improvement to the previous regulations based on pollution concentration. For the Han river basin, using the TPWL management system is optional, and Kwangju City is the first to voluntarily establish a TPWL management plan, to be implemented between July 2004 and the end of 2007. In other river basins, water quality goals have been established in 18 locations of the Nakdong river basin, 3 locations in the Geum river basin, and 7 locations in the Yongsan/Sumjin river basin. For achieving these targets, five cities and provinces in the Nakdong river basin have already established TPWL management plans in early 2004 and other local governments in the Geum and Yongsan/Sumjin rivers are following suit.
As a precautionary measure, riparian buffer zones are being established for up to 300m~1km from the water edge along the upstream banks of the four major rivers where the development of new restaurant, lodging, livestock faming, and industrial facilities are restricted. Currently 1,130 km² have been designated as riparian buffer zones. Moreover, the government is involved in land purchasing, currently around 3,300 km², to prevent water pollution from non-point sources, among others.
In accordance with the user-pays-principle and for equitable cost sharing strategies, the MOE has levied a water use charge on downstream residents since 1999 in proportion to the amount of water usage. The collected revenue supplies the Watershed Management Fund, which supports upstream residents and local governments under land use regulations set forth to protect water resources. The Fund supports community projects and provides funding for the construction and operation of basic environmental services, as well as land purchasing. The estimated budget for 2007 is around 663.1 billion Won (928 million USD) for all four river basins.
Short-term plans include amending the Special Act on the Han River to shift the TWPL management system from optional to mandatory. Also, the TWPL system will be gradually applied on a wider scale per region and watershed, and the local support activities of the Watershed Management Fund will be expanded to incite voluntary cooperation from residents and local governments for protecting water resources.
In the field of industrial waste, the Sector Based Environmental Action Plan (SBEP) was established in January 2004. Its contents include 1) allowable emissions standards differentiated according to differences in treatment levels and costs between industries and watersheds, 2) an increase of items listed as specific water pollutants, 3) the introduction of testing and management of bio-toxins, 4) upgrading the permits system to take into consideration industry and watershed characteristics, and 5) improvements for more efficient monitoring. Furthermore, a Council for the Industrial Waste Management System Improvement Plan (24 members) has been created to facilitate the participation of stakeholders such as business, environmental technology professionals, environmental organizations, and local governments.
For advanced industrial waste management, short-term plans include pilot projects for improving monitoring and making necessary amendments to related legislations. Mid- to long-term plans include developing concrete measures for differentiated allowable emissions standards by 2008, providing an industrial waste management policy to control bio-toxins by 2007, and increasing the number of special water pollutants from 17 to 27 items by 2008.