Direction of Water Resources Policies and Implementation Method Considering Efficiency and Acceptance

Research fellow Kim Chang-heyon

Senior Research Fellow Kim Jong-won

Senior Researcher Cho Man-seok

Summary

1> It is necessary to change water resources policy to improve economic efficiency and secure social acceptance, responding to changes in conditions such as climate change, financial constraints and reduced demand.

  - (Overall policies) Shift the policy toward strengthening maintenance, repair and upgrade or performance improvement of existing facilities rather than invest in new facilities. 

  - (Water control policy) Not only prevent flooding preemptively but also strengthen measures to minimize the damage after flooding.

  - (Water use policy) Emphasize the valid practical use of developed water sources rather than construct new water sources facilities

  - (Stream policy) Emphasize the effective management and utilization of already established and improved waterfront.

2> Water resources policy direction that improves the economic efficiency

  - (Water control) Pursue non-structural measures represented by designation, restoration and management of flood plains.

  - (Water use) Pursue water demand management represented by redistribution of already developed water sources.

  - (Stream) Pursue systemic management and utilization of stream space represented by the establishment and implementation of comprehensive plan for waterfront area preservation and utilization.

3> The result of analysis targeting domestic cities found that cities with high density and composite land use level are effective in securing economic sustainability of the entire city relatively among many attributes of a compact city.

  - (Water control) Promote the utilization in the public interest including incorporation of flood plains into stream corridor through purchase by the government.

  - (Water use) Pursue the adoption of exchanges and cooperation system between region of water sources and region of water use.

  - (Stream) Establish and implement comprehensive plan for management and use of stream corridor

Policy proposals

① (Adoption of the system to review and assess project) Pursue the adoption of system to check whether existing project needs to be conducted continuously and compare and assess multiple options of the plan by (re)reviewing and (re)assessing overall water resources related project.

② (Securing the financial resources for purchasing and managing flood plains) Pursue the institutional improvement to make sure that financial resources for purchasing and managing flood plains can be used for regeneration of streams, the water system management fund and disaster restoration expenses.

③ (Promoting the creation of economic and living zone at the watershed level) Establish the foundation for the institution that promotes the creation of watershed-level economic and living zone with smooth re-distribution of water among regions and purposes by boosting exchanges and cooperation between water source area and water use area.

④ (Establishment and promotion of comprehensive plan for managing and utilizing stream) Promote the establishment and implementation of the comprehensive plan for managing and utilizing stream area such as maintenance, repair and regeneration of waterfront area, release of designation, restoration and preservation of natural ecosystem and environment  and linkage between nearby protected low land (area which is protected by river banks) and the land use and planning.​