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Keywords: Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM); Han-river basin; Vision and strategy
Abstract: The average annual precipitation of Republic of Korea is 1,277.4 mm, 1.6 times higher than the world average precipitation of 807 mm. However, Annual gross precipitation per head of population is only about 17% of world average. In addition, Polarization occur due to rapidly climate changes such as increasing precipitation in flood season, Increasing the magnitude and frequency of droughts in dry season. Currently, Our country has been inefficiently operating considering only quantity based on surface water such as single reservoir operation, lack of information sharing system by institution, without community participation and cooperation of organizations. Recently, has planned to watershed management not only water quantity but also water quality and disaster prevention as one system focused on Ministry of Environment. This is called “Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)”. In order to realize integrated water resources management, it is necessary to understand the watershed situation and water problems in each region. The Han-river, which is the basin of this study is the largest basin in the four rivers. Basin area is 34,674.0 km 2 and it occupies 35% of the total area of the country. Also, it includes Seoul, Incheon metropolitan city and five provinces and has two shared rivers with North Korea. The following is a summary of water problems in each region. The upper stream of Han-river basin is the most abundant and clean in terms of water quality and water quality. However, there is a lack of water storage facilities because many mountainous areas. The middle stream is a urban area and water infrastructure is built. However, Urban flooding and water quality problems arise due to the rapid increase in imperviousness due to urbanization. The downstream region has abundant water resources close to the West Sea, but there is no water source, and regional reality depends on the upstream region and there is conflict between Republic of Korea and North Korea. In order to overcome such a problems, the following strategies are needed. At first, we need to understand changes in humanities, social, ecological, environmental, and hydrological characteristics throught the expantion of the hydrologic observation network for the Han river estuary and shared rivers. and it should be used as basic data for joint use and economic cooperation. Second, the government, local government and public institutions should cooperate with each other to set up a committee for the discuss and resolve conflicts. Third, we must develop conping abilities through the development of new technologies such as seawater desalination and W-E NEXUS. In this study was investigated the current state of the Han-river basin, the problems in each region. Also, this study proposed vision and strategy to apply integrated water management.
Year: 2018