Comprehensive Measures for Non-Point Source Pollution Management
Comprehensive Measures for Non-Point Source Pollution Management
Up until recently, water management measures have focused on controlling point source discharges such as industrial and municipal wastewater that can be collected through pipelines and easily treated. As evident in the table below, water quality levels in the four major rivers have largely improved since 1997. However, policies focused on point source pollution have shown its limitations in achieving water quality improvement, pointing out the need for an advanced management system for river basin water quality beyond the scope of existing policies.
Yearly water quality changes, 1997~2003 (BOD levels in ppm)
River
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
Han
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.4
1.3
1.4
1.3
Nakdong
4.2
3.0
2.8
2.7
3.0
2.6
2.1
Guem
3.4
2.4
2.6
2.7
3.7
3.3
2.1
Yeongsan
7.2
5.9
6.8
6.5
6.2
5.6
4.8
Pollutants from non-point sources are estimated to account for 22~37% of the total pollutant load (BOD level) in the four major rivers. If taking Total Nitrogen (T-N) and Total Phosphorous (T-P) as the standard, both which are the main cause of eutrophication, the proportion of non-point source pollutants is expected to be much higher. With the expansion of wastewater treatment plants and strengthened discharge regulations, point source pollution continues to decrease. However, non-point source pollution continues to increase from cities, roads, and farmlands. For example, analysis shows that 44.5% of the pollutant load in the Paldang water supply resource is from non-point sources. Without proper measures, it is expected to rise to 54.3% by the year 2020.
The Ministry of Environment recognizes the fact that further significant improvements in water quality are difficult to achieve without concentrating efforts in the prevention of non-point source pollution. In other words, comprehensive measures are necessary to control major non-point sources such as runoff from roads, highways, and bridges, as well as livestock waste, agricultural fertilizers, and overflow from combined sewers.
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