Ministry of Environment Strengthens Summer Algae Control... Installing Barriers to Block Wildfire Debris

[Financial News]  
With the temperature expected to be higher than usual this summer and rainfall relatively high in June, the Ministry of Environment is stepping up its summer algae control efforts. 
On the 27th, the Ministry of Environment announced the '2025 Algae Focused Management Plan'. 
First, the plan is to prevent algae in advance by designating and managing key algae management areas, focusing on land-based pollution sources, livestock manure, and personal sewage. To remove land-based pollutants, facilities for reducing non-point source pollution such as artificial wetlands will be expanded and improved, and management of piled compost will be strengthened. Especially, piled compost left on riverbanks or embankments or improperly managed can flow into rivers when it rains, causing water pollution and algae. About 1500 piles of compost will be intensively managed through collection, relocation, and covering, and education and promotion for proper management will be conducted simultaneously.
In addition, to diversify livestock manure treatment, facilities for solid fuel production and biogas production will be expanded, and related laws and systems will be revised. 
Algae removal will also be strengthened. After large wildfires in spring, heavy rains can cause soil and wildfire debris to flow in, so barriers to block these have been installed at major river points (Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang, etc., 52 locations) including downstream of Imha Dam. In addition, algae removal equipment will be expanded by newly deploying seven algae removal boats in areas with high algae occurrence frequency and installing floating treatment wetlands. 
Simultaneously, various algae removal pilot projects, such as strengthening water circulation to remove algae or directly decomposing and removing algae cells, will be promoted and their effectiveness analyzed. Additionally, algae will be removed through the integrated operation of dams, weirs, and estuary banks, and in the case of the Nakdong River, a pilot project will be conducted to advance the discharge time using a schedule. 
Furthermore, monitoring will be strengthened and major pollution source management plans will be established. Before the algae occurrence period, an algae response situation team will be formed, and joint algae drills will be conducted with related agencies to check response and cooperation systems by agency. 
Cho Hee-song, Director of Water Environment Policy at the Ministry of Environment, stated, “The conditions for algae management remain challenging due to natural disasters such as climate change and wildfires,” adding, “We will thoroughly prevent and respond to algae occurrences to create an environment where the public can live with peace of mind.”



aber@fnnews.com Park Ji-young Reporter