Integrated System of Sewage and Excreta Management

Previously, sewage and excreta disposals have been separately managed under the 'Sewerage Act' and the 'Act on Disposal of Sewage, Excreta and Livestock Wastewater' respectively. Such arrangement was often subjected to a criticism, because they were deemed to result in inefficiency by causing overlapping investments and tasks. In response, MOE has appointed competent members of the Public-Private Policy Improvement Forum with plans to integrate the two laws based on the comprehensive review on the enforcement decrees, budgetary system, and organizational structure of each.

The 'Policy Improvement Forum,' headed by the Director of Policy Research of the Korean Environment Institute (KEI) will develop improvement measures for the upcoming policy revisions. Working-level scientific experts from KEI, waterworks association & institutes, businesses, relevant ministries and local governments will formulate three separate teams, which are i) Sewage, excreta disposal ii) Sewerage system iii) Integration of enforcement decrees & ordinances. The members of the forum will organize brainstorming sessions on demand, and will also host workshops and public hearing sessions.

Up to date, MOE has constructed large-scale wastewater treatment plants in sewage treatment districts while installing small-scale sewage treatment facilities and septic tanks in other areas. By 2002, 207 sewage treatment plants have been built, and 137,000 small-scale sewage treatment facilities and 2,727,000 septic tanks had been installed in areas without the sewerage system.

Accordingly, the coverage rate of sewerage system has been gradually increased from 61% in 1997 to 76% in 2002, and the rate of flushing toilets has also shown an increase, from 84% in 1997 to 92% in 2002. These positive figures suggest the proven improvement in sewage treatment system of Korea in conjunction with the advancements in excreta disposal treatment system. Provided that the Sewerage Act and the Act on the Disposal of Sewage, Excreta, and Livestock Wastewater are integrated, MOE plans to prepare the measures to shift form sewage-focused budgetary system to a balanced system that considers both sewage and excreta wastewater. Understanding that the nation has been experiencing an increase in the rates of flushing toilets and sewerage system, MOE will work to coordinate new measures, organizational structure, and budgetary system to accommodate the projected changes.

The integration of the two Acts will have significant impact on the sewage management system in Korea by departing from a system that merely covered a few urban cities whereas residences or building owners in other areas were asked to install separate septic tanks or other sewage treatment facilities.

Another important measure promoted in the sewage treatment district is that wastewater inflows - which were previously stored in septic tanks - will be treated in sewage treatment facilities. Also, the number of septic tanks (approximately 27,000,000) will be decreased nationwide. Furthermore, combined sewer system with septic tanks will be replaced by separate sewer system, and in the areas previously without sewerage pipes, separate sewer systems will be installed.

Furthermore, Korea will encourage the integration of human expertise in both the septic tank and sewage treatment industries. Also, in order to prevent the production and circulation of unqualified goods and services, MOE will re-examine the septic tank installation & technical standards.

- The source from "Ministry of Environment" -