Gyeongnam Province's water leakage rate has surpassed 20%, prompting questions about the effectiveness of its aging pipeline maintenance projects.
In Uiryeong and Hapcheon, over 40% of supplied tap water is reported lost to leaks, bringing the issue of regional water management to the forefront during a recent administrative audit by the provincial council.
Park Jin-hyun, a member of the Gyeongnam Provincial Council's Economic and Environmental Committee, highlighted the economic losses due to water leakage during the audit of the Environmental and Forestry Bureau on November 12. He urged for increased effectiveness in the maintenance of aging water supply networks.
According to data submitted by Gyeongnam Province, approximately 89.59 million tons of the total annual water supply of about 443.49 million tons is lost to leaks, resulting in an overall leakage rate of 20.2%.
The estimated economic loss, calculated by applying the total cost per ton to the leakage amounts by city and county, is approximately 150.3 billion won. The breakdown includes 38 billion won for Changwon, 16.1 billion won for Gimhae, 14.9 billion won for Miryang, and 12.9 billion won for Jinju.
However, this figure is based on provisional data from Gyeongnam Province for 2025 and not on confirmed national water supply statistics.
A Gyeongnam water supply official explained, "The national water supply statistics currently include data only up to 2024, and the 2025 figures provided to the council are still provisional."
The 150.3 billion won figure also does not represent actual financial losses but is an estimate based on the leakage amounts and the total cost of water production and supply. Park also noted in a press release that there is a difference between this estimate and actual financial losses.
Leakage rates vary by region, with Uiryeong County at 45.7% and Hapcheon County at 43.8%, indicating that nearly half of the supplied tap water is lost to leaks.
Gyeongnam Province attributed the high leakage rates in rural areas not only to aging pipelines but also to the mountainous terrain and the method of water supply.
The official stated, "While urban areas have relatively standardized pipelines, rural areas in western Gyeongnam often require pressurization due to the mountainous terrain. Even if pipelines are replaced, leaks can still occur due to sustained pressure." They added that while significant budgets are allocated for rural areas, improvements are challenging due to geographical conditions, emphasizing the need for ongoing pipeline maintenance.
The distinction between loss amounts and leakage rates was also underscored.
The official explained, "In areas like Changwon, where tap water usage is high, the leakage rate may be relatively low, but when converted to monetary terms, the loss can be substantial."
According to Gyeongnam Province, the leakage rate has shown a gradual decline until 2024. However, the provisional figure for 2025 is recorded at 20.2%. The official noted, "In 2025, the increase in leakage in the Changwon area impacted the overall statistics for Gyeongnam."
Discussions also arose regarding the prioritization of maintenance projects for aging water supply networks. Park called for a reassessment of priorities based on leakage rates and loss amounts. In response, Gyeongnam Province stated that it is already prioritizing maintenance projects in areas with high leakage rates and rural regions.
The official remarked, "We are implementing projects by city and county within limited resources, aiming to manage the situation to prevent further deterioration while gradually improving it."
Additionally, the administrative audit addressed the controversy surrounding the detection of algal toxins in the Nakdong River. Park pointed out that while environmental groups claimed that algal toxins were found in the urine of three Gyeongnam residents, government air quality tests showed no detection, calling for objective verification and accurate information dissemination.
A water quality management official from Gyeongnam stated, "The joint investigation being conducted by the government and environmental groups includes four sites in Gyeongnam, including Hapcheon and Changnyeong." Gyeongnam Province clarified that it is not the agency conducting the joint investigation but is monitoring the progress and results.
The official explained, "While there are established testing methods for algal toxins in drinking water, there are no standardized testing methods for air or urine, highlighting the differences in subjects and methods of investigation."
Park emphasized, "Water leaking underground ultimately costs the residents. We must reassess the priorities of maintenance projects considering leakage rates and loss amounts," and urged for scientific verification and accurate information to alleviate public concerns regarding algal toxins.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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