Laws Related Groundwater in Korea

Laws Related Groundwater in Korea

Law	Ministry	Promulgation	Main Contents	Website
Groundwater Act	ME	2018	General law for groundwater development and management License for development	View
Drinking water management Act	ME	2017	Water quality standards License for bottled mineral water development	View
Special Act on the establishment of jeju special self-governing province and the development of free international City	MOIS MOLIT	2017	General law for groundwater development and management for jeju special self-governing	View
Hot Spring Act	MOIS	2016	License for hot spring well	View

MOLIT : Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, ME : Ministry of Environment
MOIS : Ministry of the Interior and Safety

Outlines of the Groundwater Act

History

• Dec. 10. 1993 Promulgation of law(Come into force Aug. 9. 1994)

Purpose

• To ensure the propriety for groundwater development and utilization
• To contribute to the advancement of public welfare and the development of national economy by preventing groundwater pollution

Basic Groundwater Survey

• The ME shall conduct a basic survey related to the hydrogeologic characteristics and the exploitable amount of groundwater of the whole nation, and construct hydrogeological maps on a scale of 1: 50,000

Groundwater exploitation regulated by Permit and Declaration system

• Subject of permit : wells of pumping capacity more than 100 ㎥/d (agricultural 150 ㎥/d)
• Any applicant who wants to get the permit shall submit "Groundwater Impact Investigation Report" to relevant local governor
• Valid term of Permit : 5 years (may be extended)
• Declare (report) in case of developing a well of pumping capacity less than that for permit

Restoration (decommission) on abandoning well

Deposit of the performance bond (For securing the performance of the restoration)

Designation of Groundwater Preservation Area

• Where deemed necessary for the preservation and management of groundwater, provincial governor may designate the groundwater preservation (protection or development restriction) area

Prevention of Pollution from Potential Groundwater Contaminant Sources

• Installation of facilities to prevent leaking of groundwater contaminants
• Installation of facilities used to confirm whether pollutants leak into groundwater
• Obligation of Remediation when polluted groundwater (“polluter pay principle”)

Groundwater Monitoring

• ME : National Groundwater Monitoring Network, Groundwater Quality Monitoring Network
• Local Government : Supplementary Groundwater Monitoring Network

Qualification and Registration of the Business Related to Groundwater

• Groundwater well drilling
• Groundwater Impact Survey
• Groundwater Remediation