Korea is set to adopt weekly forecasts of water quality near the four major rivers under a multi-billion dollar refurbishment project next month in a bid to better control water pollution there, the Environment Ministry said Monday.

The government plans to start the weekly forecast of water conditions in key stream spots of the Han, Nakdong, Geum and Yeongsan rivers in August. The preliminary August forecast will be expanded later to cover broader regions by next year, the ministry said.

“The water-quality forecast is aimed at maintaining water conditions above a certain level in order to prepare for quality degradation,” a ministry official said.

The weekly forecast will be made on the basis of the ministry’s analysis of the density of the bird population, as well as biochemical and chemical oxygen demand in order to preempt water pollution, according to the ministry.

The 22 trillion won ($20.7 billion) project, launched in 2009, is one of the key goals of the sitting Lee Myung-bak administration, which argues it will ensure a stable supply of clean water, help prevent floods and create new jobs. 

(Yonhap News)