Potable water quality to be greatly improved

The Ministry of Environment will improve the quality of potable water to the level of developed countries by 2005 and spend more than 900 billion won on expanding waterworks in local urban and rural areas, officials said Tuesday.

Commemorating the ninth World Day of Water, the ministry and five other government agencies such as the Construction-Transportation, Agriculture-Forestry, Maritime-Fisheries, and Government Administration-Home Affairs ministries jointly worked out a comprehensive plan to control the nation`s water quality. Officials said that the measures were aimed at enhancing public health and promoting a water-friendly environment.

The plan is composed of 50 policy measures in 10 sectors, including tightening safety measures for potable water, expanding waterworks and water-related facilities, conserving natural water systems, using public water treatment facilities in a more environment-friendly way, stepping up flood safety control measures and developing water-friendly tourist resources.

Under the plan, the number of items that are used to measure water quality will be increased to 85 by 2005 from the present 47 in an effort to boost the standard to the level of advanced countries. Water standard systems suitable for each district will also be introduced.

In addition, the government will spend 916.5 billion won, including 504 billion won from the state coffers, to finance the expansion of waterworks in small cities, rural areas and islets by 2005.

To improve outdated waterworks and related facilities, the government will also make public the results of its monitoring of the entire process of water supply and introduce a phased program to boost the efficiency of water purification facilities.