Seoul City outlines plan to become water-savvy city

Seoul City plans to introduce various rainwater management facilities and permeable pavements in public buildings as part of plans to save water and protect the environment.

The metropolitan government will also provide subsidies to district offices to build systems to conserve and reuse natural water sources.

Environmentalists welcomed the measures as important steps to reduce waste and improve water use.

“It’s only a small portion of the whole city but it is remarkable to see that the city had a change of viewpoint from considering rainwater waste to using it as a resource,” said Han Moo-young, Korea’s top rainwater harvesting expert, who heads the Rainwater Research Center at Seoul National University.

Under the plan, the city government will replace impervious pavements with porous surfaces at its Jungnang water reuse center next month. Rainwater collection facilities will also be established in two other public buildings to recycle rainwater for cleaning and landscaping.

The city will also build rainwater storage and circulation facilities in the Magok district and Dongdaemun Design Plaza, a large-scale complex center, both under construction.

Seoul will support half of the cost for five districts building rainwater reuse systems in public culture centers, including Dobong and Nowon.

By Lee Hyun-jeong ()