1. Study Objectives and Method

￮ The Ministry of Environment have legislated the ‘Act on Water Source Water Quality Improvement and Resident Support, etc.’ in the Han River water system in 1999, the water systems of Geumgang, Nakdong, Yeongsangang and Seomjingang River in 2002 and have imposed and collected water usage charges, and operated the Water system management fund.

￮ For more than 20 years, the water system management fund has supported for residents support programs, Installation and management of basic environmental treatment facilities, Purchasing land, Total pollution load management and support for operation of water pollution prevention facilities. As a result, the installation rate of environmental infrastructure was increased, and the water quality was greatly improved in areas where water source dams & upstream areas of water source dams and in areas where total pollution load management implementation plan was established.

￮ However, as the increase in the installation rate of environmental infrastructure and the aging of the residents are reducing the residents support programs and the installation and management of basic environmental treatment facilities of local governments in the Geumgang River system in Jeollabuk-do. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare a plan to continuously secure and increase the water system management fund.

￮ In the case of the Yeongsan River and Seomjin River water systems, the beneficiaries of the water system management fund are limited to the water source dam and its upstream areas, the local governments that establish an implementation plan for total pollution management and the local government that pays water usage charges. As support was concentrated on the local governments in the basins of Lake Juam, Dongbok Lake, Sangsa Lake, Sueo Lake, and Tamjin Lake located in Gwangju and Jeollanam-do, it is necessary to find a way to secure support project costs through a review of the water system law.

￮ Through water usage fee payment status by local governments in Jeollabuk-do and the support status of water system management fund support status, problems in operation of water system management fund in the Geum River, Yeongsan River, and Seomjin River water systems and system improvements We would like to propose measure to secure and increase the water system management fund and improve the act about the water system management fund.

2. Conclusion and Policy Suggestion

￮ In order to improve the support and operation of the water supply fund suitable for conditions of Jeollabuk-do, we would like to propose the following matters that should be pushed ahead in advance.

￮ First, economic analysis is needed in order to secure water management funds for the Yeongsangang River and Seomjingang River. The supply of water for daily use and industrial use is one of the purposes of the construction of Seomjingang Dam, and since a part of Jeongeup-si is appointed as a water source protection zone, it is reasonable to be appointed as a beneficiary area of the water management fund, but due to non-paid water usage fees, they are not receiving benefits from the Water Management Fund.

￮ If local governments and firms that currently use the water from the Seomjingang River Dam as living water and industrial water pay the water use charge, the degree of benefits of the water management fund that can be received as a water source protection zone should be economically analyzed. Based on this, appropriate options must be given to the residents for their sakes.

￮ Next, a legal review of the water system law and operation rules of the Yeongsangang River and Seomjingang River is necessary. The Yeongsangang River and Seomjingang River Waterworks Act and its operating rules limit the water source dam and its upstream area to the area where the total pollution management plan is established to pay the water usage charges. In the case of Seomjingang Dam, one of the purposes of its construction is to provide stable supply of raw and public water secured by normalization of dam operation to the eastern Honam region (new and expanded industrial complexes and others).

￮ Therefore, it is highly likely that the Seomjingang River Dam was subject to the payment of water charges. It is necessary to legally review whether it is reasonable to use the water quality management of the upper stream of the Seomjingang Dam and the local government to provide financial support to the residents of the Seomjingang River Dam in Jeollabuk-do

￮ Finally, it is necessary to secure financial resources and to establish plans for the comprehensive management plan of Yongdam Dam and Seomjingang Dam. In order to prevent the reduction of the water management fund for the Geumgang River, Yeongsangang River, and Seomjingang River, it is also necessary to find related projects necessary to set the direction of water management and achieve the goal. However, it is insufficient yet to establish integrated water quality control measures for basin units including water quality, quantity, ecosystem, governance, etc. in addition to the water environment management plan and the total water pollution management plan in the middle region

￮ Therefore, it is necessary to establish a cooperative system between local governments in the basin and secure financial resources to operate the water quality management plan for the two water systems on a regular basis in order to financial resource for water management finance fund continuously.

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