Pyeongtaek City Petitions Han River Basin Environmental Office Chief Choi Jong-won on Improving Water Quality of Pyeongtaek Lake

[Suwonilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Pyeongtaek Mayor Jung Jang-seon met with Choi Jong-won, chief of the Han River Basin Environmental Office, on the 14th to discuss regional issues aimed at improving the water quality of the Jinwi and Anseong streams and Pyeongtaek Lake.

Mayor Jung Jang-seon explained the difficulties in improving the water quality of the Jinwi and Anseong streams and Pyeongtaek Lake, which has deteriorated due to urban development.

In addition, he officially petitioned for: ▲the formation of a "Pyeongtaek Lake Water Quality Improvement Council" involving the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, 10 cities across 2 provinces in the Pyeongtaek Lake water system, experts, and local residents; ▲support for the installation of total phosphorus treatment facilities by local governments within the basin to reduce total phosphorus (T-P), the main cause of algal blooms; and ▲national subsidies to improve the water quality of urban streams such as Tongbok Stream.

Pyeongtaek Lake has been confirmed to have exceeded Grade 4, the standard for agricultural water, and has already entered a hypereutrophic stage.

Chief Choi Jong-won, citing examples of water quality improvement support in cities such as Hwaseong, said, "I understand that although Pyeongtaek Lake is an important lake that supplies agricultural and industrial water to the southern part of the metropolitan area, local residents suffer greatly from algal blooms every year," and added, "We will provide active support so that the water quality of Pyeongtaek Lake can be improved as soon as possible."

Mayor Jung Jang-seon requested, "The city has the lowest forest and green space ratio in the country at 18%, and due to its unfavorable geographical location, an increasing number of citizens are concerned about a decline in their quality of life caused by fine dust and river algal blooms every year. We are carrying out city administration with environmental policy as our top priority," and asked, "We ask for the central government's continued interest and cooperation going forward in improving the water quality of the Jinwi and Anseong streams and Pyeongtaek Lake, which have well-developed bicycle paths and outstanding natural value such as beautiful waterfront scenery."