PROJECT: ASR Program Development

South Korea

GSI is in the fourth year of a multi-year project to evaluate the feasibility of ASR and recharge throughout South Korea. The project is being funded by KOWACO, the governmental agency responsible for planning water resource development for the country. Korea is experiencing substantial population growth and available surface water storage is becoming limited. Consequently, KOWACO has asked GSI to assist it in promoting the development of groundwater and ASR in the country. During the first year of the project, GSI staff traveled to South Korea to assist in performing injection and recovery tests on a volcanic island off the east coast of South Korea. Since 2006, GSI has been investigating ASR feasibility on a large island off the south coast of Korea. This project includes developing concepts for diverting high mountain surface water, developing simple cost-effective strategies for treating the water so that it is suitable for recharge, and designing injection wells. Pilot testing of the project is expected to be completed by 2011.