Gov't to replace outdated water pipelines

The South Korean government will invest a total of 1.8 trillion won ($1.6 billion) to improve the worn out local water supply system over the coming 12 years, the finance ministry here said Monday.

The central government will inject money from the state budget starting from next year into the 3.1 trillion won-water supply modernization project, with provincial governments to shoulder the rest of the expenses, according to the Ministry of Strategy and Finance.

Out of the country's 185,707 kilometers of water supply pipelines, 31.4 percent, or 58,233 km, is 20 years old or older, and most of the old water pipes are located in rural areas.

As a result, non-revenue water ratio, or the percentage of lost water before it reaches the customer, was 29 percent in the countryside, compared to 5 percent in urban regions.

The most outdated water supply systems in 22 regions will be subject to the first round of the government-led renovation project next year, added the ministry.

The government said the central government's participation in the water supply project will help provincial governments carry out the modernization project faster, while local residents will have clearer and safer tap water. (Yonhap)