The large reduction in water use costs in Ulsan is expected to relieve burden on citizens.

Ulsan Metropolitan Government announced that the water use costs will be reduced KRW 32.1 from March due to the large decrease in Nakdonggang River water purchases.

According to the city, Ulsan experiences consistent precipitation throughout the year, with a total of 1,621 mm of accumulated rainfall. This data is used to predict and determine the amount of precipitation and catchment, which helps to adjust the purchase of water from the Nakdonggang River, thereby minimizing the need for water purchases.

Therefore, the water use charges will be reduced from KRW 36.4 to KRW 4.3, which is a KRW 32.1 decrease, staring in March.

For example, if a family of 4 uses 20 tons of water each month, the water use charge will decrease by KRW 640, from KRW 720 to KRW 80, starting in March.

The Waterworks Headquarters Ulsan Metropolitan City is planning to actively promote the reduced water use charge to citizens from March through the waterworks website (water.ulsan.go.kr) and distribution of promotional material.

On the other hand, the water use charges is a cost charged separately to residents who are supplied direct or purified water from the Nakdonggang River basin. The unit cost changes ever year as it is calculated using the imposition coefficient approved by the Nakdonggang Environmental Administration.

Charged together with the water and sewage bill, it is a fund paid to the Nakdonggang River basin management committee by Busan, Daegu, Ulsan, Gyeongsangnam-do, and Gyeongsangbuk-do region, which use water from Nakdonggang River, pursuant to Article 32 of the Act on Water Management and Residents' Support in Nakdonggang River Basin.

The collected funds are used for the operating costs of installing and operating environmental infrastructure such as water supply reserves and areas around water supply dams, land acquisition in regulated areas such as water supply reserves, water quality improvement projects, etc.

The water use charge for this year is calculated using the ratio of Nakdonggang River water from the total water intake volume multiplied by the imposed rate (KRW 170/ton, notice from the Ministry of Environment).