Ulsan Nam-gu (Mayor Dong-wook Seo) launched preemptive response to prevent flooding damage from summer typhoons and local torrential rainfalls.

By using cutting-edge river control system and residents directly participating in maintenance activities, it is expected to greatly contribute to expanding awareness of the importance of maintaining sewer facilities.

According to Nam-gu, as a preemptive measure to prevent urban flooding caused by recent abnormal weather events, the district is strengthening resident-participatory rainwater drainage maintenance activities. These efforts are being carried out in cooperation with residents from 14 dongs (administrative neighborhoods) and cover key drainage facilities, including 18.2 km of rainwater gutters and 410 catch basins on back roads.

Especially, the “Rainwater Gutter Maintenance with Residents for the Rainy Season” campaign, now in its third year, has received strong support from the community. This year as well, autonomous disaster prevention groups in all 14 dongs are taking the lead in organizing local rainwater gutter maintenance teams consisting of around 750 residents, tailored to the needs of each neighborhood.

They are performing activities such as removing cigarette buds and waste in rainwater catchers based on regular flooding regions, and separating covers on top of rain catchers.

The Hwahapmun gate and Haengbokmun gate, which are river disaster prevention facilities (land-side floodgate)　at Taehwagang River, has completed environmental maintenance during the middle of this month, and is now focusing on maintaining sewage facilities in preparation for the rainy season such as regularly maintaining storm overflow chambers and pump facilities.

Additionally, Nam-gu is actively performing the river facility integrated platform that was established for the first time in Ulsan last year.

This platform is linked to river water levels and rainfall, enabling the rapid management of access control facilities, disaster alert systems, and evacuation broadcasts, among other functions.

Additionally, 26 CCTVs equipped with human identification functions are deployed along the Mugeocheon and Yeocheoncheon Rivers to assist with human evacuation.

The reason why Nam-gu is putting in effort towards preventing flooding damage is because smooth drainage and rainwater storage is essential for preventing floods, but cigarette buds and waste become the cause of flooding by blocking discharge.

Furthermore, personal drainage facilities that flow into public sewerage must be regularly maintained by the owner or user to prevent damage.

Therefore, Nam-gu is planning to continuously carry out “Rainwater Gutter Maintenance with Residents for the Rainy Season” campaign to increase awareness and strengthen sewage facility management of residents.

Hyun-doo Jeong, Leader of the Shinjeong 4-dong autonomous disaster prevention group commented, “I have realized the importance of regular rain catcher and sewage facility management to prevent damage from flooding by participating in the rainwater gutter management activity”, and “I am letting other residents know that they should not throw away waste and clean up regularly.”

A Nam-gu official emphasized, “We will promptly eliminate elements that disrupt the flow of the river through the maintenance of rainwater gutters and catchers, where the interest and participation of many residents are crucial.” He also stated, “We will work diligently to prevent flooding and minimize inconvenience and damage to residents by intensively maintaining sewage facilities.”