Performance evaluation program of water treatment plant in Korea

Recognizing the composite correction program (CCP) has been successful in improving drinking water quality in the USA, the Ministry of Environment (MoE) of Korea has initiated a similar program since 1998. After three years' work, the research team has proposed an evaluation program. Water treatment plants have been classified into four groups based on their capacities because this has best represented current standings of the plant. Group 1 consists of small plants having a capacity of less than 5,000 m³/day. The plants in Group 4 have capacities of more than 100,000 m³/day. Group 2 consists of small to medium sized plants of 5,000-50,000 m³/day, whereas the plants in Group 3 have capacities between 50,000 m³/day and 100,000 m³/day. The evaluation documents and the treatment goals for each group also have been established in consideration of manpower and characteristics of the facilities. The disinfection goal has been set up to ensure 0.5 log removal of Giardia regardless of the group, whereas the turbidity goal has been differentiated from 0.1 NTU to 0.5 NTU. A flow chart and a detailed inspection list identifying the vulnerable points of the plant have been prepared to help the operators to know how best to improve the performance. The education programs for operators also have been practiced. The MoE has prepared a quantitative evaluation list to score water treatment plants by their capacities, facilities, manpower and the local government's financial supports. The MoE has graded water treatment plants nationwide and local governments have been ranked by the plants in their areas. The resulting grades have been announced annually so that community citizens knew where their community was positioned and how much attention their local government has paid to the waterworks. The performance evaluation program strongly backed up by the MoE is going to be spread out nationwide step-by-step. Thus, things are happening in Korea. However, some of the concepts and principles could be referred to the countries that are planning to introduce a similar program.