▲ Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae
Gyeonggi Province announced on October 28 that Governor Choo Mi-ae has issued administrative guidance to Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, urging them to establish their own management standards and reduction measures to lower the concentrations of chloride and sulfate ions in their semiconductor plant wastewater.
This marks the third round of administrative guidance, following recommendations made in July and August to the two companies to increase their process water reuse rates and reduce wastewater discharge volumes.
Process water refers to water used in the semiconductor manufacturing process, while wastewater is water that has been treated after use and is discharged into rivers or other bodies of water.
While the previous two rounds of guidance focused on expanding water reuse and reducing discharge volumes, this latest recommendation focuses on improving the quality of the discharged water.
Previously, the Gyeonggi Provincial Institute of Health and Environment conducted three water quality surveys between August and September on Jukdangcheon, where wastewater from SK Hynix in Icheon flows. The surveys showed that the average concentrations of chloride and sulfate ions at a point 0.4 kilometers downstream from the discharge outlet were 731 mg/L and 1,561 mg/L, respectively, exceeding the agricultural water guidelines suggested by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
In its guidelines for evaluating irrigation water, the FAO suggests typical ranges of 355 mg/L for chloride ions and 0 to 960 mg/L for sulfate ions in surface irrigation water.
There are currently no separate river water quality standards for chloride and sulfate ions in South Korea.
Elevated concentrations of chloride and sulfate ions have the potential to affect crop growth.
Gyeonggi Province noted that Gosam Reservoir in Anseong, which is scheduled to receive wastewater from the Yongin SK Hynix cluster currently under development, is used as an agricultural reservoir, making proactive water quality management necessary.
Accordingly, Gyeonggi Province has requested the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment to promptly establish permitted discharge standards for chlorine compounds, as well as sulfur and its compounds, for the Yongin SK Hynix site. The province plans to continuously monitor the water quality of surrounding streams and Gosam Reservoir in alignment with government-permitted discharge standards.
Under the Administrative Procedures Act, administrative guidance refers to an administrative action in which an administrative agency guides, recommends, or advises a specific person to take or refrain from certain actions to achieve a specific administrative purpose within the scope of its duties.
Disadvantageous measures cannot be imposed simply because the other party fails to comply with administrative guidance.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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