Busan's North Port landscape canal, known as Byeollit Canal, has seen a nearly 30% improvement in water quality compared to a year ago.
This improvement is attributed to effective on-site management, including the removal of aquatic plants and the installation of floating debris barriers.
The Busan Port Authority (BPA) announced on August 18 that continuous environmental maintenance and systematic water quality management have enhanced both the aesthetics and water quality of the North Port landscape canal.
According to BPA, compared to the second quarter of the previous year, dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) improved by 66%, dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) by 71%, and dissolved oxygen (DO) saturation by 20%. Consequently, the water quality index (WQI) has improved by approximately 30%.
These measurements are part of a post-environmental impact assessment conducted quarterly as part of the North Port redevelopment project. The assessments are carried out by a specialized environmental evaluation agency and include various factors such as water quality, air quality, noise and vibration, and marine sediment.
A BPA development department official explained, "The second quarter assessment was conducted at the end of May, right after the removal of aquatic plants and the installation of barriers." He added, "The third quarter assessment was conducted on the 13th, and results are expected in early October."
An environmental quality assessment firm stated, "Considering the changes in key water quality indicators and on-site conditions, the ongoing environmental improvement measures have positively contributed to the water quality enhancement of the landscape canal."
In addition to water quality indicators, the amount of floating debris entering the canal has significantly decreased. A BPA official noted, "Since the installation of the barriers, the amount collected has decreased by nearly 70-80%, as reported by on-site collection staff."
BPA believes that the structure allows debris from outside the canal to enter, and that blocking the entrance has led to physical improvements. The tidal range in the North Port is relatively small, at about 1 to 1.5 meters, making the barrier effective. They noted that conditions differ from ports like Incheon, where the tidal range can reach 8 to 9 meters, making direct comparisons difficult.
However, these results are limited to the Byeollit Canal section and do not reflect the overall water quality improvement in the North Port area. There are concerns that seasonal and rainfall variations may cause quarterly fluctuations, indicating the need for ongoing monitoring to assess trends.
BPA emphasized that for long-term and fundamental water quality improvement, it is necessary to implement a separate sewer system project led by the city of Busan to prevent sewage inflow from the surrounding urban area. This project aims to separate and treat domestic sewage and rainwater through improved sewer systems.
Song Sang-geun, BPA President, stated, "Continuous on-site management and environmental improvement efforts are leading to better water quality in the landscape canal," adding, "We will carefully manage the landscape canal to ensure that citizens visiting the North Port can enjoy a cleaner and more pleasant waterfront space."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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