Waterscape Facilities can be broadly categorized into contact and non-contact types. Contact-type waterscape facilities allow users to interact directly with water for recreational purposes, and to safeguard public health and safety, the Ministry of Environment mandated a registration and water quality management system for contact-type (recreational) waterscape facilities under the Water Environment Conservation Act in 2017. In line with this, Seoul City has introduced various measures, including training for installation and operation personnel, public disclosure of water quality test results, and the development of a comprehensive waterscape facility information system.
On the other hand, Non-contact Waterscape Facilities, where water does not directly come into contact with the human body, currently have no established legal management standards. Poorly managed non-contact facilities still pose a risk of incidental contact, which could lead to water quality issues depending on usage. Additionally, they could inconvenience citizens due to unpleasant odors or visual concerns. Therefore, a systematic approach to water quality management, including setting water quality standards and measurement intervals based on usage characteristics, is essential to maintain clean water quality through regular operational and facility inspections.
Seoul manages a total of 595 public waterscape facilities, of which 263 are recreational contact-type facilities, and 332 are Non-contact Waterscape Facilities, making up 62% of the total. The city classifies non-contact facilities into categories such as ground fountains, wall fountains, small streams, ponds, general fountains, and other types. Based on the characteristics of water flow, they are further categorized into types such as waterfall (e.g., wall fountains), brook (e.g., small streams), still water (ponds), fountain (ground fountains and general fountains), and mixed types. Among these, wall fountains (77 sites, 23.2%), small streams (67 sites, 20.2%), and ponds (65 sites, 19.6%) are predominantly found in urban parks and along roadsides.
For contact-type waterscape facilities, management under the Ministry of Environment’s Water Environment Conservation Act requires prior reporting for initial installation, operation, and major modifications. Regular water quality testing is also conducted to ensure compliance with quality and operational standards. Under Article 2 of the Act, non-contact types do not require water quality management, as they are not classified as contact-type even if the features (e.g., signage, fencing, and managers) are similar to those of contact-type facilities.
Some large Non-contact Waterscape Facilities in parks under the jurisdiction of certain Seoul city agencies have undergone water quality testing, but there are no established standards for water quality, testing frequency, or other administrative measures beyond recommending restricted access.
A comprehensive analysis was conducted on the 332 Non-contact Waterscape Facilities in Seoul, examining factors such as water source, water purification activities, water circulation and discharge methods, safety installations, and the likelihood of contact. In summary, after analyzing the characteristics of each type of non-contact waterscape facility and conducting a summer 2024 field survey and expert consultation, factors affecting water quality were reviewed. It is recommended to apply water quality standards to non-contact facilities with high potential for contact, and for facilities with longer water retention times, such as ponds, to prioritize landscape management based on their installation characteristics.
Based on the analysis results of the characteristics of each type of facility, it is suggested that the stored water among floor fountains, general fountains, Byeokcheon, Falls, and Silgaecheon is circulated and used as a type with high possibility of contact and inhalation, and that the water is inspected and managed at an appropriate cycle by applying it to the subject of water quality intensive management. A plan to prepare a "self-inspection table" was proposed to perform periodic "operations and facility inspections" for all facilities including this. Even if a facility has a high possibility of contact, the case of continuous use of new water without storage or circulation of water is excluded from the subject of intensive management. As of 2023, a total of 123 facilities are used to store and circulate water in consideration of the possibility of contact, with fountains accounting for the largest proportion. However, if citizens can actually play in the water even if the purpose of installation is not the facility that was originally installed to play in the water, it is necessary to manage it at the level of a water-playing type hydroponic facility.
Operations and management items and standards were prepared for water quality management of contactless hydroponic facilities, and managers were required to manage external factors affecting water quality, clean storage tanks, or replace water even if water quality tests were not performed.
Self-inspection is divided into operation inspection (before operation, during operation, after operation) and facility inspection, and is organized to be inspected by item. The checklist used at the time of inspection shall be carried out once before operation, once a week during the entire operation period, and once after operation, and the results of the inspection shall be kept by themselves for two years. In the event of an inspection, insufficient parts shall be taken by themselves, the results shall be prepared in the checklist, and it shall be kept.
In addition, in the event of a serious water quality problem during operation, a water quality test can be performed temporarily. The water quality test follows four criteria: pH (6.0 to 9.0), E. coli (5,000 MPN/100 ml or less), odor (not to be impure), and turbidity (5 NTU or less), and each figure was presented in consideration of existing case studies and expert advice.