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Busan Water Authority, Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, and K-water Sign AI Transformation (AX) Technology Agreement for the Water Supply Sector

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Busan Water Authority announced that it will sign an “Artificial Intelligence (AI) Transformation (AX) Technology Agreement” with the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment and Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water) at 11:30 a.m. today (December 15) in the main conference room of the Authority, with the aim of leading smart innovation in local water utilities.

This agreement was 마련ed to promote mutual technological cooperation for the application and advancement of AI-based water supply operation technologies.

The agreement includes joint research and information sharing to support AI-based technologies in the water supply sector—such as the AI-powered water treatment plants currently being promoted by Busan Metropolitan City and an integrated intelligent pipeline network management platform—as well as to enhance operational efficiency and advance treatment plant processes.

In particular, this marks the first case nationwide of AI-based mutual technological cooperation at the level of water utilities involving the central government, public institutions, and local governments, making it especially significant as a pioneering model of smart innovation in the water supply sector.

Based on this agreement, the Myeongjang AI water treatment plant to be established will incorporate advanced technologies such as real-time process automatic control, big data–based water quality management, AI-powered predictive maintenance of facilities, intelligent energy management, and intelligent video surveillance.

Through these measures, Busan Metropolitan City expects to achieve stabilized water treatment processes and quality, zero human error, prevention of safety accidents through intelligent video surveillance, and improved energy efficiency, resulting in an estimated annual reduction of approximately KRW 500 million in electricity costs.

Furthermore, if these technologies are expanded to all water treatment plants across the city in line with Busan Metropolitan City’s plan to modernize aging facilities, total annual operating cost savings of more than KRW 3 billion are expected.

At the national level as well, the central government is actively pursuing the introduction of cutting-edge AI-based smart water supply technologies in the local water supply sector in line with the national AI transformation strategy, enabling Busan Metropolitan City to take priority in securing national funding and related support.

The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment plans to use the renovation of Myeongjang No. 1 Water Treatment Plant and the introduction of AI-based autonomous operation as a leading model for aging water supply improvement projects, with plans to expand this model to other local governments and public institutions.

Meanwhile, Busan Water Authority is also participating in a core technology R&D project on energy demand management led by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and is promoting energy savings in water treatment processes by applying AI- and digital twin–based technologies for the utilization of water management facilities at the Myeongjang Water Treatment Plant.

The project involves a total investment of KRW 17.3 billion, including KRW 13.0 billion in government funding from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and KRW 4.3 billion in private contributions, with nine organizations—including Busan Metropolitan City—participating in the development of an AI- and digital twin–based energy optimization system for water management facilities.

Kim Byeong-gi, Head of Busan Water Authority, stated, “This agreement represents a first step toward supplying safer and cleaner tap water to the citizens of Busan, while also responding to the government’s policy to foster advanced AI industries,” adding, “Through close cooperation with the central government and Korea Water Resources Corporation, we will establish a world-class smart AI water treatment plant and an even safer pipeline network management system, both domestically and internationally.”