AI Water Management Emerges as a Solution to Climate Crisis; K-water Accelerates Digital Transformation

As climate change increases the risk of water disasters such as floods and droughts, the Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water) is implementing an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital water management system. The initiative aims to enhance response capabilities across all aspects of water management, from flood prediction to water treatment plant operations.

According to industry sources on June 17, K-water is focusing on a digital twin water management platform and an AI-based autonomous operation system for water treatment plants to drive innovation in water management. The digital twin platform replicates real rivers, dams, and water environments in a virtual space, using AI to predict weather changes and inflow levels.

Notably, the AI-based real-time weather and inflow prediction technology, combined with a three-dimensional digital virtual environment, can analyze up to 48 discharge scenarios simultaneously. This allows for pre-simulation of various situations and identification of optimal discharge strategies, thereby enhancing flood response capabilities. In January, the World Economic Forum (WEF) recognized this initiative as a leading example of disaster response in an official report by OpenAI.

AI applications are also expanding in the operation of water treatment plants. The AI-based autonomous operation system automatically adjusts chemical dosing and operational conditions based on changes in water quality, enabling real-time responses to variations in raw water quality due to seasonal and weather conditions. Currently, this system is in use at 43 metropolitan water treatment plants nationwide, resulting in approximately 11 billion won in operational cost savings last year.

Both the digital twin water management platform and the AI-based autonomous operation system for water treatment plants were recently ranked first and third, respectively, in the Ministry of Economy and Finance's 'Top 10 Public Institution Innovation Projects.' Building on these achievements, K-water plans to leverage the digital twin water management platform and AI water treatment systems to expand its overseas operations.

Yoon Suk-dae, president of K-water, stated, "Through the advancement of AI water management technology and the expansion of the industrial ecosystem, we aim to position the water industry as a core pillar of the super-innovation economy and play a key role in elevating Korea as a global AI powerhouse."