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Busan Metropolitan City’s Implementation Plan for Nonpoint Pollution Source Management Measures Approved by Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment… Expanded National Funding Support

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, announced that the Busan Metropolitan City Implementation Plan for Nonpoint Pollution Source Management Measures, established to improve the water quality of urban streams, has been approved by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, paving the way for the full-scale implementation of nonpoint pollution reduction projects.

The implementation plan calls for the phased implementation of various nonpoint pollution reduction projects, including the projects currently underway along the main channel of Dongcheon and Bujeoncheon, as well as Low Impact Development (LID) projects across 11 sub-watersheds within the nonpoint pollution source management area.

Nonpoint pollution sources refer to pollutants accumulated on roads, parking lots and other surfaces that are washed into streams with stormwater when it rains. To systematically manage these pollution sources, Busan Metropolitan City designated a total area of 128.056 square kilometers (km²) covering 11 sub-watersheds—Dongcheon, Gayacheon, Jeonpocheon, Bujeoncheon, Hogyecheon, Oncheoncheon, Dongnaecheon, Goejeongcheon, Samnakcheon, Gamcheoncheon and Hakjangcheon—as a nonpoint pollution source management area in January 2023.

Through the implementation plan, the City aims to reduce total phosphorus (T-P) loads by at least 5–20% within the managed flow range, corresponding to the upper 5–40% of total flow.

In addition, following approval of the implementation plan, nonpoint pollution reduction projects carried out within the nonpoint pollution source management area will be eligible for priority national government subsidies.

In particular, the national government subsidy rate will increase from the current 50% to 70% starting next year, in 2027, which is expected to ease the City’s financial burden in implementing the projects.

For the implementation of nonpoint pollution reduction projects in 2027, the City has applied for national government subsidies for three sub-watersheds—Dongcheon, Bujeoncheon and Hakjangcheon—and plans to actively secure national funding and gradually expand the projects.

Sim Jae-min, Assistant Mayor of Environment and Water Policy Office, said, “With the approval of this implementation plan and the increase in the national government subsidy rate for nonpoint pollution reduction projects to 70%, we can now expand these projects on a more stable basis.”

He added, “Going forward, we will make every effort to expand nonpoint pollution reduction projects not only to Dongcheon and Bujeoncheon but also to the remaining nine streams, creating clean and healthy urban streams that residents can visit with confidence.”